Share of the hits' profits? They should be so lucky
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A dispute over copyright between the former members of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who created hits for Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan in the 1980s, was settled yesterday.
A dispute over copyright between the former members of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who created hits for Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan in the 1980s, was settled yesterday.
On the fifth day of a High Court hearing in London, songwriters and musicians Michael Stock and Matthew Aitken dropped their claim for hundreds of thousands of pounds against Peter Waterman.
The three men, responsible for a string of hits including Kylie Minogue's number one "I Should Be So Lucky", separated in the early 1990s.
Mr Stock and Mr Aitken had claimed that Mr Waterman parted with ownership or control of the rights in recordings without their consent, in breach of a 1985 oral agreement that the three would share the profits in all their work together. The dispute centred on their in-house record label, PAL Productions, owned by Mr Waterman and set up in 1986.
Mr Stock and Mr Aitken said Mr Waterman had no right unilaterally to assign to others the copyrights of songs by Minogue, Donovan and Rick Astley.
Mr Waterman denied there was any agreement giving Mr Stock and Mr Aitken a continuing interest in the recordings. He insisted they were entitled only to payments for production work and songwriting and that these payments were made. He said they had turned down the chance to be co-owners of PAL Productions. Mr Justice Parker made an order for £70,000 legal costs against Stock and Aitken.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments