Shirelles lawsuit against "Baby It's You!"
Shirelles lawsuit against "Baby It's You!"
chanel
Broadway Star Joined: 1/28/04
#1Shirelles lawsuit against "Baby It's You!"
Posted: 4/27/11 at 11:57am
Some of the musical stars feel exploited.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2011/04/girl_group_laws.php#more
#2Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:01pmCould this be the nail that seals the show's coffin?
#3Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:05pm
Funny how they used a Shirelles european release on the Fontana label to illustrate that article and not an American release on Greenberg's Scepter label.
I don't know if it's been discussed here but what is the exact reason that "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"? is not in the show?
Updated On: 4/27/11 at 12:05 PM
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
tourboi
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/15/05
#5Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:10pm
This (like the lawsuit threatened against MDQ when it opened on Broadway) seems so ... calculated.
The show was doing amazingly well at Pasadena (as MDQ was doing in Chicago long before Broadway). Why not sue them then? When it began? Why wait for Broadway? Seems fishy to me.
#6Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:12pmHow interesting that the news comes out on opening night... seems just the teeniest bit calculated.
~Lina Lamont
My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.
#7Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:20pmI was thinking the same thing. Why now? The show has been around for awhile now. Why didn't they initiate this lawsuit when the show was in development?
#8Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:23pm
It is interesting how the lawsuit has nothing to do with unauthorized use of the Shirelles music (which I assume the production obtained the rights for) but for "unauthorized use of names, images and biographical information."
I don't know about the images, but I was under the impression that you could legally use the names and biographical information of public figures as long as it wasn't used in a libelous manner.
PitPro2004
Broadway Star Joined: 2/15/04
#9Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:40pm
Calculated is right. Is this what stars of the past do when they can't make any money anymore?
They have had since the very inception of this musical to file a suit. Bad timing....bull! Someone is looking to make a profit and waited until the show came to NYC to do so. Just sayin.
#10Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:48pmAlso, the producers of the show HAD to have sought legal advice before backing this musical, making sure all of the name use and such was legal. It seems so stupid that this lawsuit is arising. That, or the producers made one crucial mistake before signing the checks.
JP2
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/07
#11Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:57pm
"They have had since the very inception of this musical to file a suit. Bad timing....bull!"
No they didn't. That's not how lawsuits work. At the very inception of the musical how the hell would they be able to prove the musical is infringing if the musical hasn't been written yet?
#12Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:58pmconfused... what is MDQ?
billyboyA
Stand-by Joined: 12/29/10
#13Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:58pm
Hey, if YOU were gonna sue to A) earn money and B) get media attention, would you sue Pasadena Playhouse for pennies and a mention in the Pasadena papers, OR would you wait for Broadway and do it on opening night and get worldwide attention and a potential killer settlement?
No mystery here, folks.
As the old saying goes: you can take the girl out of the ghetto, but...
PitPro2004
Broadway Star Joined: 2/15/04
#14Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:01pm
"No they didn't. That's not how lawsuits work. At the very inception of the musical how the hell would they be able to prove the musical is infringing if the musical hasn't been written yet?"
Read billyboyA's' post..I meant since the show opened in California.I'm not a mind reader and I am sure the lawyers aren't either.
#15Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:05pm
Are they telling the Shirelles' actual story in this show? Or Dionne Warwick's?
Or is this another Dreamgirls-type fictionalized account?
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#16Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:06pmWell they do say in the playbill that certain things have been changed/dramatized. I guess that's what they take issue with.
#17Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:08pm
But it's their life story on the stage? If so, they (might) have a case.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#18Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:10pmEh, kind of I guess. It's about 20% their story, 20% of the white lady's story and 60% pointless songs that have nothing to do with anything at all.
#19Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:12pm
Actually, the more I think about it, they probably don't have a case.
Only if they were using material that belonged to the Shirelles, or using their actual likenesses (Shirelles photos, etc.) to sell the show. I could see them winning that.
But if it's just look-alikes and sound-alikes, singing songs that the Shirelles don't own the rights to, that probably won't cut it in court.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#20Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:13pmMaybe they're just embarrassed to be associated with this p.o.s.
#21Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:15pm"Defamation of character." LOL
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#22Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:17pm
LMAO @ Jordan: It's about 20% their story, 20% of the white lady's story and 60% pointless songs that have nothing to do with anything at all..
BroadwayShowTime
Understudy Joined: 9/11/10
#23Shirelles lawsuit against 'Baby It's You!'
Posted: 4/27/11 at 1:25pm
"confused... what is MDQ?"
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