FELA! faces another law suit.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Fela_Kuti_Book_Author_Sues_Broadway_Production_20101108

Charles Moore, author of a book about Fela Kuti, has sued the producers of the Broadway musical Fela!. As presented to federal court in Manhattan today, Novemmber 8, Moore claims that producers of the show 'stole his work', and wants performances of the show to stop. Moore, who reportedly declined an offer of $4,000 in 2007 from the show's producers, is seeking at least $5 million.

Well, if the author was offered money a couple of years ago, then I don't think he is in any position to complain now. If anything the producers acknowledged that he was right and offered to give him financial compensation for it. If they wanted to do that then that is fine, but it doesn't seem that the author would get much sympathy from the court if he declined that offer and is now asking for mer at a later date.

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"Well, if the author was offered money a couple of years ago, then I don't think he is in any position to complain now. If anything the producers acknowledged that he was right and offered to give him financial compensation for it. If they wanted to do that then that is fine, but it doesn't seem that the author would get much sympathy from the court if he declined that offer and is now asking for mer at a later date."

Your argument doesn't really make sense. If he declined an offer to use his story or work or whatever, that means he did not give them permission. If they went ahead and used his work anyway, he'd have quite a case.

You couldn't offer someone a pittance to use their written songs, have your offer rejected, then say they have no right to complain later when you went ahead and used their songs anyway.

That said, if he just wrote a biography, he's going to have a tough time getting any damages. You can't really have the rights to historical events. And I doubt he wrote any of the music or lyrics.

Also, considering the show is closing in just under two months anyway, it seems odd to complain now. Assuming the court case actually takes a few weeks for the lawyers/creators to gather necessary materials and make decisions, the show could be closed before this is resolved anyway. I guess it is playing in London now, though.

He couldn't have written any of the lyrics as the music is all the music OF Fela Kuti -- the man himself. (I'm fairly certain that there was no NEW music written.)

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