Apple Cider Vinegar – What can influencers legally say about health and medicine online in Australia?
Spotify’s Legal Victory Over Eminem’s Co-Publisher in Long-Running Copyright Dispute
Introduction While Eminem’s music, including iconic tracks like “Lose Yourself” and “Without Me,” is widely known and celebrated globally, few are aware of the complex legal battle surrounding the royalties from these songs. This legal conflict involved streaming giant Spotify and Eight Mile Style (“EMS”), Eminem’s co-publisher and copyright holder of 242 of his compositions. […]
I can buy myself that song, Flowers: Miley Cyrus v Tempo Music
News broke on 17 September that Miley Cyrus—former incognito pop-star for Disney Channel turned Grammy-winning solo artist—is being sued. The dispute concerns similarities between Cyrus’ chart-topping song Flowers and Bruno Mars’ 2013 hit When I Was Your Man. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles’ federal court on 16 September by music rights investment firm […]
How-to Guide: Music licensing for small businesses
When we’re out in public, recorded music surrounds us wherever we go. Sitting in waiting rooms, browsing shops, eating at restaurants, and exercising at the gym—these everyday activities would all feel pretty strange and lifeless without music. If you read the fineprint of the user agreements of many popular digital music streaming services, you’ll find […]
Aussie Music Festival Crisis
Aussie music lovers have suffered more devastating news after BluesFest festival director, Peter Noble, announced that the legacy of BluesFest will end after its 2025 event. After 35 years of live music the festival has decided to call it quits, with many not surprised by another cancelled festival amongst the dire state of Australia’s music […]
Ed Sheeran Wins Copyright Lawsuit
On May 5th 2023, an American jury ruled found Ed Sheeran (and his co-writer) did not infringe on the copyright of Marvin Gaye’s hit ‘Let’s Get It On’. Gaye’s heirs accused Sheeran’s tune, ‘Thinking Out Loud’ copied a four-chord progression used in ‘Let‘s It On’. Sheeran’s counsel successfully argued that the award-winning artist had only a passing familiarity with […]
HOW TO MERGE YOUR LOVE OF MUSIC WITH YOUR LEGAL CAREER: CHELSEA’S STORY
https://www.collaw.edu.au/news/2022/05/26/entertainment-law-chelsea-donaghue Studying law is a demanding pursuit, and every law student knows it’s easy to fall behind. For Chelsea Donaghue, being a backing singer and vocal coach meant she was often catching lectures between shows, flights, rehearsals and soundchecks. Since graduating, Chelsea has managed to marry her passions in a single career, working as a music […]
Paramount Pictures is on a Highway to the Danger Zone as Copyright Infringements are Levelled
Film conglomerate Paramount Pictures was recently hit with copyright infringement allegations by Shosh and Yuval Yonay, the widow and son of the late author of the article ‘Top Guns’. The Yonay’s claim that the rights to Ehud Yonay’s 1983 article which inspired the storyline behind the ‘Top Gun’ film, reverted back to them on 24 […]
Mariah Carey sued for alleged copyright infringement over ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’
Mariah Carey, her co-writer Walter Afanasieff and the Sony Music Group are being sued by musician, Andy Stone for their well-known Christmas tune All I Want for Christmas Is You. In a civil lawsuit filed in Louisiana, Stone alleges he co-wrote and recorded a song with the same name in 1989 and never permitted, consented […]
The Power of People: Crowdfunding rescues Basement Discs
The generosity of many music-lovers has recently saved Melbourne-based record store, Basement Discs. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Basement Discs co-owners Suzanne Bennett and Rod Jacobs struggled to pay rent. The Block Arcade store co-owners said that the store had faced a decrease in sales by approximately 80% because of the pandemic. To […]
Pop-sensation Ed Sheeran has won his copyright battle
On April 6, pop-sensation Ed Sheeran and his co-writers, John McDaid and Steven McCutcheon won their legal battle against Sami Chokri, who performs under the name of Sami Switch. The victory comes after arduous litigation where Sami Chokri accused Sheeran of copying the chorus in Chokri’s song “Oh Why”. The copyright claims waged against Sheeran, […]
Top Songwriters Face the Music
Industry professionals have been accustomed to warning songwriters of the potential legal battles they can face as a result of copyright breaches. However, with the growth of streaming services and multiple teams of writers behind the chart-toppers, copyright infringements are on the rise. Recently, Ed Sheeran has faced the music, accused of copying the chorus […]