The Seven network has issued a summons to the former Sunrise executive producer Adam Boland over his upcoming memoir Brekky Central, which has been promoted as a tell-all book about breakfast television.

Seven believes the book may breach confidentiality agreements Boland was bound by as an employee of the network, which he left in February 2013.

Lawyers for Boland and his publishers, Melbourne University Press, will appear in court on Friday morning after Seven demanded to see a copy of the manuscript.

Seven has confirmed it issued a summons for preliminary discovery but declined to comment. The book is due for publication on 3 November.

Guardian Australia understands Seven has little to fear from the contents of the book, which is more about Boland’s personal journey as a high-profile producer battling mental illness than it is about the network’s secrets.

“There is nothing in the book that A Current Affair will do as a story,” a publishing source said. “It doesn’t set out to reveal how Kochie secretly hated Mel or anything. Everyone should just calm down.”

The MUP publisher, Louise Adler, confirmed Seven had claimed Boland was in breach of a confidentiality agreement. “We are renowned for publishing books with spine,” Adler said. “We stand by this very personal book and the author.”

Boland joined Ten last year to launch the breakfast program Wake Up, but remained at the network just months. The show was later cancelled. He spoke about his mental illness this year on the ABC’s Australian Story.

It is the second time there has been legal friction between Boland and Seven, who fell out after Boland quit his job as director of morning television and strategic initiatives and became a consultant to the network. In 2011 Boland sought an order that his consultancy agreement with Seven be set aside because, at an annual rate of $150,000 for two days a week, he was underpaid.

“Between Sunrise and The Morning Show, Adam Boland oversaw 30 hours of network television a week,” the MUP publicity blurb says. “Along the way, he turned a daggy finance nerd and a suburban mum into household names and even helped propel Kevin Rudd into the Lodge.”