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Can You Own the Story of a Band?

September 5, 2008
by Mike Masnick
Blogger, TechDirt

Mike Masnick

Here’s a question for you: Can someone own the copyright on the history of a musical group? We may find out as a lawsuit moves forward concerning the “ownership” of the story of a famous band. As you may know, there’s been a popular musical called “Jersey Boys” about the history of the musical group The Four Seasons–and now there’s the inevitable argument over who gets to earn money from that musical.

The person suing is the widow of a lawyer/writer, Rex Woodard, and she’s suing all of the band members, with a specific focus on Thomas Gatano DeVito. Woodard’s husband knew the members of The Four Seasons and co-wrote a manuscript biography of DeVito.

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