Minder granted injunction ruling in Rod Stewart copyright case

Cavalcade Records Ltd, trading as Minder Records Ltd (Minder), has succeeded in action against HHO Multimedia Ltd for infringement of its copyright for early Rod Stewart recording The Blues.

His Honour Judge Birss QC at The Patents County Court, London awarded Minder a permanent injunction against HHO Multimedia ltd (HHOM). In addition, the court awarded Minder damages and found in Minder’s favour in relation to cost. HHOM will have to pay the majority of Minder’s cost in the action – approximately in excess of £40,000.

HHOM had made available Minder’s recording to third-party partner Cleopatra Records Inc, who had then sold the recording to the public, both as part of physical packages and digitally.

The Blues was recorded by Python Lee Jackson Feat. Rod Stewart in the late 1960’s and was one of three recordings by Stewart at the same session. The other titles were In A Broken Dream And Cloud Nine.

The Blues has featured on Rod Stewart compilations and most recently in cult French television show La Nouvelle Maud.

Originally recorded for John Peel’s Dandelion Records these recordings were subsequently released on the Youngblood label. The rights were assigned to Minder in 1988.

Minder MD John Fogarty told Music Week: “Infringers take other people’s work and hope and operate on the basis that the owners of the copyrights in question will be deterred in taking action because of the incredibly high legal costs.

“However, Minder always takes the long-term view and will do anything within reason to protect our rights and those of the artists and writers involved. Therefore, we are very pleased with the result in this action and feel thoroughly vindicated.”

Source: Music Week