Well, 'Grey Album' creator DJ Dangermouse should take some reassurance from this: he isn't the only one to have got into legal hot water over the Beatles back catalogue. Now EMI, the label who issued the DJ with a 'cease and desist' letter over that unofficial bootleg mix album, are themselves facing a legal challenge relating to the Fab Four.
Apple Corps, the music company owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the estates of George Harrison and John Lennon, has launched a £30 million lawsuit against EMI over allegations that the London based major record company has failed to properly report on royalty payments. Apple claim royalty anomalies were revealed during an audit of their accounts, and that they have been negotiating with EMI bosses for two years regarding better access to the major label's financial records in order to better clarify what monies are owed.
Confirming the company had launched litigation against EMI in both London and New York, Apple Corp chief Neil Aspinall told reporters on Friday: "We have tried to reach a settlement through good faith negotiations and regret that our efforts have been in vain. Despite very clear provisions in our contracts, EMI persist in ignoring their obligations and duty to account fairly and with transparency. Apple and the Beatles are, once again, left with no choice but to sue EMI."
The 'once again' bit presumably refers to The Beatles' last legal battle with EMI back in 1991 when Apple took legal action to stop the major from releasing a box set of two albums.
Commenting, albeit in vague terms, on the new litigation, an EMI spokesman said on Friday: "From time to time artists request audits of their record label accounts; it's not unusual and we have no problem with it, because we want to have full financial transparency with our artists. Sometimes there are differences of opinion, not least when record contracts are complex. Sometimes artists resort to the courts or mediation, and 99 times out of 100 the problems are resolved amicably for a small proportion of the claim. EMI has offered to go to mediation but, sadly, Apple rejected that offer."