Copyrights- DeGeneres Show Is Being Sued

The producers of The Ellen DeGeneres Show are being sued by some of the world's largest recording companies (Warner Music Group Corp, Sony Corp's Sony Music Entertainment, Vivendia SA's Universal Music Group, autednd EMI Grup), for using their songs without permission. The show is distributed and produced by various divisions of Time Warner Incorporated, all of which are co-defendants in the case, and although Ellen's name isn't specifically named in the lawsuit, her company is. The lawsuit states that the show has used more than 1,000 different songs illegally, without acknowledging the record companies first or receiving the proper licensing to play the songs. Most of the songs the show has illegally used are played during Ellen's popular introduction by a DJ during the beginning of the show.

The lawsuit states," As sophisticated consumers of music, defendants knew fully well that, regardless of the way they rolled, under the Copyright Act... they needed a license to use the sound recordings lawfully."

In a statement made by Warner Bros Group Corp, they said they had been working with the labels for "many months" to resolve the issue of how the songs will be used on the show, "after years of a good working relationship between the parties. It is unfortunate that the record labels have resorted to filing a suit over a straight forward business dispute which the show has always been prepared, and remains willing, to resolve on a micable and reasonable terms."

I'm somewhat disturbed by the greed showed by these music labels in suing The Ellen DeGeneres Show for the free promption of their music. I understand the show illegally used such music, but the show is highly viewed worldwide, and it was a great way to promote these songs, as millions of people have downloaded the songs they've heard from watching the show. Perhaps these music companies could have gone about this situation in a different way, and still alow for the show to play its music without having to go through a lawsuit.