The 'Whiter Shade of Pale' dispute isn't over yet

[LG]

Ahem...George settled that lawsuit in the 80's CP/M, it was a landmark case in the music industry. George was quite bitter about the whole thing. If you took all the music ever recorded in human history and put it on a computer and analyzed it the number of almost identical patterns would be astronomical, so I find all this kind of ridiculous in a way.

Ray Parker Jr. got sued for Ghostbuster's title song as well, I can't remember who he apparently copied but he lost as well.

The thing about Procol Harum, is the time involved, this is way too long of an interval to try and settle a copywrite/royalty suit, the guy who sued should have done that months or a couple of years after the song was released. And to top it all off he admits to basing his keyboard line from a famous work of J.S. Bach, who's works are owned by a publishing house/company, so if he wins do the right-holders to Bach's music then sue the keyboard player from Procol Harum?

Where does it all end?

 

[billtjr51]

Ahem...George settled that lawsuit in the 80's CP/M, it was a landmark case in the music industry. George was quite bitter about the whole thing. If you took all the music ever recorded in human history and put it on a computer and analyzed it the number of almost identical patterns would be astronomical, so I find all this kind of ridiculous in a way.

Ray Parker Jr. got sued for Ghostbuster's title song as well, I can't remember who he apparently copied but he lost as well.

The thing about Procol Harum, is the time involved, this is way too long of an interval to try and settle a copywrite/royalty suit, the guy who sued should have done that months or a couple of years after the song was released. And to top it all off he admits to basing his keyboard line from a famous work of J.S. Bach, who's works are owned by a publishing house/company, so if he wins do the right-holders to Bach's music then sue the keyboard player from Procol Harum?

Where does it all end?

It probably doesn't end. Not the lawsuits anyway. Too much greed. Stealing a song is one thing. Similarity is not stealing.
(Now this is theft) A friend of mine in Oklahoma wrote a song and used to play it at my house(I used to live in Ok). He went to Nashville and tried to sell it. He was rejected. About a year or so later I heard it on the radio by Dr Hook. It was "Better love next time". It was the same lyrics, but was a little more upbeat than the way my friend played it. Not blaming Dr Hook, but someone in Nashville stole it. Lesson learned: Copyright or you have no case.

 

[CP/M User]

billtjr51 wrote:

(Now this is theft) A friend of mine in Oklahoma wrote a song and used to play it at my house(I used to live in Ok). He went to Nashville and tried to sell it. He was rejected. About a year or so later I heard it on the radio by Dr Hook. It was "Better love next time". It was the same lyrics, but was a little more upbeat than the way my friend played it. Not blaming Dr Hook, but someone in Nashville stole it. Lesson learned: Copyright or you have no case.

Now that really gets me - that's worse than what Lordie was telling me about out of $10 the group gets $1.70! To steal someones song by the industry which looks down on ripping off their music deserves a severe gaol sentence! :-(