Inplay


	The Music Copyright Infringement Project project provides documentation and commentary relating to music copyright infringement cases in the U.S. that were tried, and that resulted in written judicial opinions. Most music copyright infringement disputes are settled before trial. In Play will cover, therefore, ongoing and recent disputes in the U.S. and abroad, including those that may not proceed to trial. These disputes often involve well-known popular musicians, and raise questions that are broadly interesting about copyright law and popular music. In Play will also provide an online forum in which readers are welcome to offer comments upon ongoing disputes. We will post comments that are relevant (and not potentially offensive) and that offer new insights or information on a given dispute. o o o Recent and Ongoing Disputes: Domino Records v. Interscope Geffen A & M Records [Schnauss v. "Guns N'Roses"] UK's Domino Records recently filed a complaint in New York against the pop group "Guns N' Roses" for unauthorized sampling of a recording Domino distributes, of electronically produced sounds put together by Ulrich Schnauss of Germany. Samuel Steele v. Jon Bongiovi, Turner Broadcasting System, Time Warner, et al. A dispute involving a Red Sox pep tune by local Boston musician Samuel Steele and a song performed by Jon Bongiovi for a television commercial. In August, 2009 a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts held for Bongiovi et al. by granting defendants' request for summary judgement. Joe Satriani v. Christopher Martin et al. [Coldplay] A claim Joe Satriani, a guitar player, based on Coldplay's popular "Viva la Vida". The parties settled in September, 2009. Ernest Straughter v. Usher Raymond, et al. A claim filed in a U.S. District Court in California in April, 2009. The dispute involves alleged unauthorized sampling of plaintiff's work by defendant Usher Raymond in his recording of "Burn". Larrikin Music v. EMI Songs Australia. A claim brought by the copyright owner of "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree" (and we all thought this was a public domain Australian folk song!) against the publisher of "Down Under," a song popular in Australia in the 1980s. In July, 2009 the Federal Court of Australia determined that the plaintiff had good title to "Kookaburra" but has not yet ruled on the question of infringement.