By: Bernetta Hardy, 4L
In 2009, the world watched numerous musicians dramatize their personal and professional conflicts within the legal arena. Domestic disputes, record label battles, and nightclub brawls seemingly consumed the music industry throughout the year. Nonetheless, although lawsuits involving musicians dominated the internet and airways, a select group of legal actions stood out amongst the rest.
The year began with the best domestic dispute of 2009: the domestic violence suit between Rhianna and Chris Brown. During the Grammy’s, media outlets and music fans diverted their attention from the flashy performances to reports of pop singer Rhianna filing domestic violence charges against her long-time boyfriend, R&B singer Brown. Allegedly, after a pre-Grammy party, an intense argument between Brown and Rhianna escalated into a physical confrontation. After the altercation, photos displaying Rhianna’s bruised face and vicious allegations of physical abuse from both parties bombarded the media outlets. Once the dust had settled, Brown pleaded guilty to all charges and received 180 days of labor service in Virginia, five years of probation and mandatory attendance in domestic abuse program. Although Brown and Rhianna appear physically distant, their professional lives remain intimately linked as evidenced by the release of Brown’s new single 24 hours following the public exhibition of Rhianna’s new song from her new album.
The best record label battle and the best intellectual property suits of the year quickly followed on the heels of the Brown and Rhianna incident. For years, Warner Music Group threatened to sue YouTube for copyright infringement because the site disseminated music from Warner artists without obtaining permission from the record label. After months of tough negotiations, the renowned record label and powerful entertainment-multimedia site finalized a licensing agreement that allowed YouTube users access to the label’s full catalog and user-generated content involving Warner artists.
The best intellectual property suits of the year were pursued by Lil’ Wayne and Courtney Love. This summer, Lil’ Wayne sued an independent film company that shot a documentary chronicling his life. The director of the project submitted the documentary, “The Carter” to the Sundance Film Festival, and the film was selected for screening. However, when the director refused to remove unsavory scenes from the film, Lil’ Wayne filed for an injunction that was swiftly denied by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.
Rock star Love initiated the second noted intellectual property suit against video game publisher, Activision. Love claims that the company’s controversial portrayal of her late husband, Kurt Cobain, in the “Guitar Hero 5” video game, constituted a breach of contract. The explosive rock star publicly proclaimed her plans to “sue the pants” off the video game publisher.
Despite Love’s colorful language and behavior, the most shocking legal incident of 2009 revolved around the demure English pop star, Leona Lewis. Lewis gained fame and fortune after becoming the 2006 winner of the “X-Factor,” the English counterpart to “American Idol.” Following her commercial success, Lewis wrote an autobiography titled, “Dreams” and engaged in an international book tour. During a book signing in London, Lewis was punched in the face by former “X-Factor” contestant Peter Kowalczyk. Subsequent reports noted that Kowalczyk waited in line for five hours to attack Lewis and laughed hysterically when the singer fled the scene. Kowalczyk was charged with common assault and is currently being held in a psychiatric hospital. Since the traumatic assault, Lewis has suspended her book tour and refrains from public appearances.
The alarming violence demonstrated against Lewis shocked the public and propelled Lewis to seek legal redress against her assailant. Similar circumstances prompted celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton, to sue Black Eyed Peas producer Will.I.Am for assault following a physical altercation outside of a Much Music Video Awards after party. Hilton alleged that the artist’s manager punched the celebrity blogger in the face after Will.I.Am berated Hilton for his negative comments toward Black Eyed Peas member, Fergie. Will.I.Am later denied the allegations, while Hilton pressed assault charges against both Will.I.Am and his manager. This legal action between Hilton and Will.I.Am constituted the best legal incident involving a media personality.
The Perez Hilton and Will.I.Am quarrel concluded the year’s best legal dramas involving music industry professionals. The listed lawsuits describe colorful and astonishing legal actions that demonstrate the extent in which many talented musicians and music industry professionals rely on the legal profession to resolve their personal and professional conflicts.
