Nice to see Sony getting some of its own treatment.
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2005/10/27/montana/a06102705_04.txtCountry singer Willie Nelson allegedly has a depiction on his tour bus of a “War Chief” sketch drawn by the late Bill O’Neill, and his widow wants $900,000 for the use of it on a compact disc.
Linda O’Neill of Bozeman filed a lawsuit earlier this week in federal court in Helena, claiming that Sony Music committed copyright infringement by including three photos of the bus as part of a recent Willie Nelson CD. O’Neill said that “Willie Nelson, Revolutions of Time … the Journey” includes 32 pages of notes and photos, and the War Chief is in photos on pages 24 and 25, as well as on the back cover of the CD.
“She hasn’t authorized any use of the O’Neill works, and the reproductions are of inferior quality when compared to the original image, which injures the artistic reputation of Bill O’Neill,” attorney Christopher Harris wrote in the lawsuit.
Bozeman artist Bill O’Neill was well-known for his pen and ink sketches in French pointillism style, and has been compared to Western artists such as Charles Russell and Frederic Remington. He died in 1999.
Along with actual damages of $900,000 for the copyright infringement, Linda O’Neill is seeking an unspecified amount in punitive damages for “actual malice.” In addition, she wants all copies of the album displaying the War Chief impounded and destroyed.
Hmm if this was a music CD she would receive at least $150,000 in damages, lets see if they decide to settle rather than face a court like most of those they sue
