The Knack go on copyright rampage
p2pnet.net News:- Late The Knack drummer Bruce Gary has barely been laid to rest and the band is already suing Run-DMC, “and their producers and house pets and gardeners and psychotherapists,” over a “My Sharona” sample.
“So sad.”
That’s how the LA Weekly sums it up.
Gary died in August and now surviving The Knack members Doug Fieger and Berton Averre are suing Run-DMC for the usual —– copyright infringement, the ‘crime’ made popular by the members of the Big Four Organized Music cartel.
“Specifically, the Knackers are upset about the fact that Run-DMC lifted the guitar bit from ‘My Sharona’ for their 1986 hit It’s Tricky’,” says the LA Weekly, going on:
“We are expected, somehow, to believe the Knack only discovered the sample now. So: Either the Knack are liars, or they’ve been aggressively out of touch with pop music for 20 years. Either way, embarrassing.”
In a 49-page complaint filed last month, The Knack front man Doug Fieger and lead guitarist Berton Averre, “claim that Run DMC illegally copied parts of their 1978 hit ‘My Sharona’ into Run DMC’s 1986 hit ‘It’s Tricky’,” says eWeek, pointing out:
“Although the statute of limitations for copyright infringement is three years, Fieger and Averre claim they had never heard Run DMC’s song — one of the most famous rap songs of all time – until August 2005.”
Nor is Run-DMC the only plaintif. Also targeted for copyright infringement are Yahoo, Apple and Amazon and for good measure, RealNetworks and Napster are accused of illegal distribution.
“Fieger and Averre are seeking $150,000 for each infringement,” says the story, continuing:
“Besides suing technology companies, Fieger and Averre are suing each member of Run DMC (including the estate of the late Jason Mizell), the band’s producers (including Russell Simmons), and several music publishers and labels.”
Also See:
LA Weekly – Run, DMC — Run!, September 27, 2006
eWeek – ‘My Sharona’ Creators Sue Yahoo, Apple, Amazon and Run DMC for Copyright Infringement, October 4, 2006
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October 5th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
well, if you’re going to sue for something, you might as well sue big
October 6th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
….I agree it’s kind of lame for The Knack to wait all of this time, however I HATE when other artists (and I use the term loosely) use samples of other people’s work! It bugs the shit out of me hearing the opening rift of something like Steely Dan’s “Do It Again: or Yes’ “All Good People” only to hear annoying Hip Hop rapping break in! If the artists give permission to have thier music ruined, fine. But I’d be mad as hell if I wrote a song and have it sampled without me knowing about it.