Legal Question in Entertainment Law in Illinois

song royalties

what are a person's rights and what can they legally do if someone writes a few songs about them? the writer is profiting but the muse or inspiration for the songs is recieving no recognition what so ever. some songs may also include infringment of character such as implying the muse is insane. is the muse entitled to recieve some form of royalties due to the fact that most of the songs are about the muse. the artists would have no album or profit if it were not for the muse to inspire such situations. what can the do? we must remember we are dealing with large amounts of money.


Asked on 12/20/02, 5:54 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Bruce Burdick Burdick Law Firm

Re: song royalties

America is the land of the free. One of our freedoms is freedom of speech. The songwriter can sing about you if he wants, and you have little recourse unless the song is defamatory (intentionally false and financially damaging). You certainly will have no right to royalties just because "You Probably Think This Song is About You, Don't You, Don't You" (to steal a quote from Sonny & Cher). Even if the muse is not amused, the muse must face the music and probably without the sound of tinkling coins for the muse.

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Answered on 12/20/02, 6:21 pm


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