Features
TOP 12: DANCE MUSIC LEGAL BATTLES
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12. Avicii VS Leona Lewis, 2011
This summer, Ministry Of Sound took on Simon Cowell’s Syco when ‘similarities’ were heard between Avicii’s ‘Fade To Darkness’ and Leona’s ‘Collide’. The case was due to go to court just weeks ago, but both parties reached an 11th hour agreement to work together.
11. Crown VS Mark Bulcock, 2011
Earlier this year Bulcock sent over 100 threatening texts to Westwood’s Radio 1 show. His defence? He was ill, he was upset as his dog had been poisoned, and basically it was all a misunderstanding. He was found guilty and bailed to await sentencing.
10. Trax Records vs Casablanca Trax, 2005
By 2002 the world’s first house label had hit hard times. An agreement was signed with Canadian company Casablanca regarding rights and ownership, but within three years things had gone sour. The case remains open to this day...
9. Valerie Joyce Wilson Turks VS P Diddy, 2011
Less of a battle, more of a farce, Miss ‘possibly a mentalist’ Turks filed an array of bizarre accusations against Diddy this January. According to her he’d caused 911, stolen a poker chip worth “zillions of dollars” and they’d had a son called Cornelius.
8. Sugarhill Gang VS Beastie Boys, 2004
‘Triple Trouble’ was meant as a tribute to Sugarhill’s first single. Despite ‘Rapper’s Delight’ being one of the first sample skirmishes in hip hop due to its use of Chic’s ‘Good Times’, The Gang filed a suit without so much as a whiff of irony. The Beasties won.
7. The USA VS Richie Hawtin, 1995
Yup, for 18 months, Hawtin – then operating as Plastikman – was banned from entering the US, having been found at the Canadian border with record boxes but no work papers. Hawtin, though, believes his banishment led to some of his most career-forming studio sessions.
6. Marc Cohn VS Shut Up & Dance, 1992
What inspired PJ and Smiley to take Marc Cohn’s ‘Walking In Memphis’ and turn it into a toe-curling rave-up we’ll never know. The case was settled out of court, but several years later the London duo remixed Cher’s cover of the same song!
5. Ministry Of Sound VS Illegal file sharers, 2010
In 2010 Ministry gained access to information on thousands of file-sharers. Having requested £375 compensation from many, their quest for justice was put back twice by BT deleting data and a new legal ruling. They’re still after the pirates.
4. Dust Brothers VS Dust Brothers, 1995
‘Dust Brothers’ was a homage to the Hollywood super-producers of the same name. Sadly, Tom & Ed Chem’s compliment was snubbed by way of a lawsuit and they exited Planet Dust, sharpish. Later, The Beatles tried to sue them for ‘Setting Sun’.
3. Crown vs Tom Costelloe, 2008
When Plymouth cops used laws intended to clean out crack houses to close the city’s only decent club, we were saddened. When the courts then jailed resident and promoter Tom Costelloe for ‘allowing drug use’, we were disgusted. Tom’s out now; check his mix on Mixmag.net.
2. Crown VS Donhonki, 2009
There are two reasons you’ve never heard of UK rapper Donhonki. One, he’s bit crap. Two, he’s banned from rapping or performing poetry in the UK. Hit YouTube to see the restraining order and the bizarre story behind it all. Some judges actually have good taste in hip hop.
And the winner is...
1. Tong VS Nelson, 2011
“You’re the book that I have opened, and now I’ve got to know much more...” So sang Shara Nelson on Massive Attack’s breakthrough single ‘Unfinished Sympathy’. Little did she know that the book was going be thrown at her 20 years later. From making nuisance calls to telling people she was Pete Tong’s manager, Nelson’s behaviour bought her a first class ticket to Restraining Order City last month. She even claimed in court to be married to him. “I know that I’ve been mad in love before...”
