Strange case of the day: singer files lawsuit against Apple for allegedly misusing his voice in commercial

Here's the story: a singer is suing Apple for misusing a song in the commercial, but the song in his and the imbrglio does not involve copyright. Don't you understand? really confusing, but everything will be properly explained in the next paragraphs.

Everything goes back to the iPhone 6 commercial above, almost two years ago and which, just as a curiosity, presents a footage captured in the Brazilian city of Votorantim (SP). The song used in the piece “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”, most famous track on the 2015 album In ColorBritish DJ Jamie xx. Music, in turn, sampling 1971 “Good Times”, by the group a cappella The Persuasions.

the problem: the stretch of music used in the commercial highlights the sample of the oldest pipe. So the lead singer of "Good Times", Jerome “Jerry” Lawson, filed a lawsuit against Apple and the advertising agency responsible for the play, Media Arts Lab (TBWA), claiming that the use of his voice in the VT violates the so-called publicity right existing in California state law. According to Lawson, his voice "was recognized by fans who saw the commercial, and they were led to believe that the singer endorses Apple products and the iPhone and / or authorized the use of his voice in advertising the company's products".

In addition, the lawsuit accuses Apple and the agency of violating an agreement, established by the film, TV and radio artists' unions, which allows singers to separately negotiate the rights to use the music in which they participate. Apparently, Lawson does not hold any kind of copyright related to music, either the original or Jamie xx and this may be due to the fact that the first federal music copyright law came out only in 1972, a year after the release. “Good Times”; before that, there were different laws in each state.

Jerry Lawson

Ultimately, the fact that Lawson believes that the small stretch of his voice present in the commercial is enough to move an action against Ma. The singer says he is still calculating how much the company is supposed to owe him, but believes that the value should be close to $ 10 million, including damages, restitution and return of Apple “undue profits” obtained by using your voice. Cupertino has not yet commented on the case.

And to whom do you give reason in this foggy case?

(via Apple World Today)