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The world's largest record companies are banding together to sue the Ellen DeGeneres show -- claiming producers owe them big for their songs that were played on the show.
It's all over the "dance" portion of Ellen's show -- according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Nashville, record execs claim they have never received a single penny for the hundreds of songs Ellen's danced to over the years.
The people behind the "Ellen" show say DeGeneres had nothing to with the case adding, "This matter does not involve our host, Ellen DeGeneres , who as everyone knows is a huge music enthusiast and advocate, and had no knowledge of issues regarding the use of music in the show."
Scott Rowe, spokesman for the show's Telepictures Productions, wrote in an e-mailed statement that the company has been working with the record labels for months to resolve the issue and remains willing to resolve it on "amicable and reasonable terms."
The record companies -- including Arista, Atlantic, Capitol Records, Motown, Sony Music Entertainment, Virgin Records and Warner Bros. Records -- didn't specify a particular dollar amount ... but we're guessin' it ain't gonna be cheap.
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OMG, this is so stupid. They should be thanking her for advertising the music!!!!!
Whats next, every night club in the world has to pay to play tunes?
Come on, they don't play the whole songs and all these artists are on her show promoting the music she is dancing too. What about Regis and Kelly, they play tunes when the prize wheel comes down.
Its all about the almighty buck.
I think it should be on the Peoples Court, lol. She would win.
From the AP News story:
According to the suit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Nashville, when representatives of the recording companies asked defendants why they hadn't obtained licenses to use the songs, defendants said they didn't "roll that way."
"As sophisticated consumers of music, Defendants knew full well that, regardless of the way they rolled, under the Copyright Act, and under state law for the pre-1972 recordings, they needed a license to use the sound recordings lawfully," the suit states.
They don't roll that way??? What the hell makes her so special that she doesn't have to follow the rules?
What a complete joke.
Isn't it enough they are having millions of people listening to this music, hello, free advertisement? As if these record companies are not profiting from these song plays? People hear it and BUY IT stupid.
We are so sue happy in this country. The greedy record companies have a ton nerve to say the least.
EVERYONE loves Ellen ya dummies. They watch her show, they watch her dance to your music. Duh.
I hope some supposed smart lawyer pulls their head of their ass and wakes up. GGGeeeeeezzzzz.
Why didn't they address this issue a long time ago. Why wait so long. Sounds stupid but if they can sue a teenager for downloading music illegally then Ellen should not be immune.
Brace yourselves Ellen fans, I see another crying pity party by her in the near future---- stay tuned!
It's TMZ's exclusive domain to only report on losers! Ever seen complimentary threads here?
Paula is playing a judge on Drop Dead Diva, on lifetime, Sunday night at 9pm. One of the lines she says is that she likes being the only judge. I'm sure she regrets her decision to leave AI.
OMG...this is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of!! I have personally purchased songs from itunes because I heard them on the Ellen show! Can we just stop suing everyone the minute we get the chance? CRRRAAAZZZYYY!!! There are MUCH bigger problems in the world!!
You have got to be kidding me! She's giving these billion dollar music corporations free artist promotion and they are suing her? Absolutely unreal.
Odd how they do it as soon as her Idol gig is announced. It is the PRODUCER'S job to get rights to play the music. Her show gave them FREE exposure.
Can someone tell me where it says she illegaly downloaded the music? If I download from itunes or purchase a CD and play it at a party, do I have to pay the record companys?
