Allegations that Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Cruises venture stole the ideas for its planned ships from former Norwegian Cruise Line boss Colin Veitch will soon be heard in a US court.
Veitch has filed papers in a Miami court accusing Branson of stealing his proposals and backing out of a 2011 profit share deal.
He is seeking more than US$300m in damages and an injunction stopping Virgin Cruises from proceeding with his ideas.
Virgin said it will defend the claims, saying it ended talks with Veitch in 2012 but had been planning an entry into the cruise industry since the late 1970’s.
Veitch was the chief executive officer & president of Norwegian Cruise Line from 2000 until 2008.
