Sony sued for lacking license to use T Rex song in Baby Driver

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Press Trust of India Los Angeles
Last Updated : Aug 04 2017 | 1:07 PM IST
The use of T Rex's song "Debora" in Edgar Wright's "Baby Driver" has sparked legal issue.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rolan Feld, the only son of the band's frontman Marc Bolan, filed a lawsuit against Sony for allegedly using the song in the Edgar Wright's movie without permission.
"Inexplicably, defendants failed to obtain - or even seek - the permission of the composition's US copyright holder Rolan Feld," read the complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court.
"In the six weeks since Feld brought this infringement to defendant Sony's attention, defendants have done little more than point fingers at one another - and they have neither apologised nor offered to pay Feld a reasonable license fee."
Feld says he learned of the use of "Debora" when a representative of Sony Music contacted his lawyer requesting a license for the movie's soundtrack.
"In other words, at least one division of Sony had no trouble determining Plaintiff was the rightful owner of the US copyright in the composition," continues the complaint. "Plaintiff promptly informed Defendants (through communications with Sony) that the use of the Composition in the Film was unauthorised."
According to the plaintiff, Sony then responded with "conflicting explanations," blaming other parties and requesting more time to investigate. But Feld says Sony has now ceased communications.
"Baby Driver" featured Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm in lead roles.

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First Published: Aug 04 2017 | 1:07 PM IST

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