p2pnet.net News:- Gary Brooker went A Whiter Shade of Pale after being told he’ll have to to share income from the rock classic with ex-Procul Harum organist Matthew Fisher (right), now a computer programmer in London.

The court decision represented a “darker shade of black” for the music industry, Guardian Unlimited has Brooker saying.

Fisher, 60, claimed the opening bars of A Whiter Shade of Pale, “which he had provided with some inspiration from JS Bach, should have entitled him to joint authorship, along with Brooker and the lyricist, Keith Reid,” says the story.

The Times Online has Brooker, 61, saying, “Any musician who has ever played on any recording in the last 40 years may now have a potential claim to joint authorship. It is effectively open season on the songwriter. Songwriters and publishers will now have to view all musicians with suspicion as potential claimants to a share in their copyright.

“This creates a ticking timebomb ready to explode whenever the musician chooses and when, possibly, material witnesses have passed away.”

Fisher will now get 20% of royalties backdated to May 2005 when he made the claim, while the 50% cut, “Brooker has enjoyed for 40 years” will be reduced to 30%, says the story.

He also faces paying about £500,000 (today, about $978,935) in legal costs, it adds.

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Also See:
computer programmer – Procul Harum vs Procul Harum, November 14, 2006
Guardian Unlimited – Beyond the Pale – singer seethes as organist wins fight over 60s classic, December 21, 2005
The Times Online – Song ruling leaves organist skipping the light fandango, December 21, 2005

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