I don’t think that, even in England, you can sue someone (a leftwing artist) on someone else’s behalf (the Clash) especially if they’re dead (Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan.)
The Clash would have to be the ones suing over this art piece, right, on the incredibly slim chance they were upset by this?
And the Clash aren’t suing One Direction to the best of my knowledge (although maybe they’ve cut a royalties deal?) so I think they have better things to do. Or maybe that riff isn’t long enough to be able to sue over. (Fair use?)
George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” was found to infringe on the Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine” because of an overlap of three notes.
And don’t forget John Fogerty being sued for sounding too much like himself.
Enjoy the special circle of hell named after you, Saul Zaentz. It’s where this song plays on a loop:
Away from the brain-searing music/copyright stuff — You can’t libel the dead, even in England, can you?
Who owns the rights to Pennie Smith’s photo and Ray Lowry’s cover design? Smith, along with Lowry’s estate? The record company?
When it was made into a postage stamp, did the Royal Mail have to cut a check and to who?
And as everyone knows, the cover is a knowing “rip off” an Elvis Presley cover and has been parodied since the day it was released — it’s that meta-ness that makes me think, and hope, that this is a gag.
If so, what will the UK’s official solicitors’ association make of this guy’s possible abuse of process, i.e., sending novelty “cease and desist” letters, especially to an artist?
What about his employer?
Who owns what and owes what to who? Again. Still. (Backstory.)
PS: Under this video (of the less loved version — universally preferred “You’re my guitar hero” rendition here.)
Music video by The Clash performing Complete Control. (C) 1977 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
That’s a laugh.
