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Godfrey v Lees
Case Reference [1995] EMLR 307
Court Chancery Division
Judge Blackburne J
Date of Judgment 21 Mar 1995
Summary
Intellectual property - copyright- claim for joint ownership
Facts
The Claimant was a classically trained pianist invited by a pop group to reside with them and act as orchestral arranger of a number of their songs. He never became a member of the Group.
Issue
Whether the Claimant was the joint owner of copyright in six musical works for which he had made orchestral arrangments or contributed to their composition.
Held
The Claimant had established that he had made a significant and original contribution to the creation of the work and must be regarded as a joint author. But as he had waited 14 years before asserting his rights, he was estopped from revoking the implied license granted to the pop group for the exploitation of the works.
Comment
You snooze; you lose.
Instructing Solicitors
Kanaar & Co for the Defendant