GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

September 10, 2008

A Jamaican man who claims that he co-wrote a pair of reggae songs featured on one of Grand Theft Auto IV's radio stations filed suit over the issue against Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive in July.

The suit was dropped yesterday in federal court in Manhattan.

In his complaint, Linton White alleged that he co-wrote Last Night with David Brooks, aka Mavado. White also claims co-authorship of Bullet Proof Skin with Rodney Basil Price, who performs as Bounty Killer. Like the plaintiff, Brooks and Price are also from Jamaica.

Both songs named in the suit appear on the playlist of GTA IV's reggae-themed Massive B Sound System 96.9 station, which can be heard as players drive around the game's expansive setting in an assortment of virtual vehicles.

White is listed as a producer on Mavado's 2007 Gangsta for Life album, which contains the disputed Last Night track. According to the suit, White alleges that his co-authorship of the disputed songs was not added to the Liberty City Guidebook which was packaged with GTA IV:

In the... Liberty City Guidebook... [Take-Two and Rockstar] designate D. Brooks and B. Konders as the writers of "Last Night." ...[Take-Two and Rockstar] designate D. Brooks and R. Price as the writers of Bullet Proof Skin." No designation is made of plaintiff as a writer.

Neither Brooks, Price or Konders are named as defendants. In his complaint, White demanded $150,000 plus punitive damages and other fees. In court filings, attorneys for Rockstar and Two-Two argued that White's claims lacked merit. It is unknown what - if anything - White received.

For its part, Take-Two refused to comment on the matter. White's attorney, Anthony Motta of New York, declined to say whether or not there had been a settlement.

Comments

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

Maybe when a lawsuit if filed you shouldn't describe it as being "dropped." Kind of confusing.

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

The lawyer for Rockstar games should just walk in with a straight face and say:

"Your Honor, we've done several focus groups and surveys... no one even knows there is a raggae channel in the game. We tried to get people to listen to it, but it would drive them to go on a killing spree. We estimate the song in question gets played on a average of 0.00015 times, with the average listening time of 1 quarter of a second."

And then just sit down. Don't looks smug, just sit down.

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

bwahahahaha

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

There are two reggae stations in GTA4. One is modern reggae, the other is strictly Bob Marley tracks.

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

Odd to think that over 4000 sales of GTAIV were necessary to generate the profit needed to pay for an oversight in licensing. Still, if it's sold 8-12 million; that's just pocket change :P

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

Baz Anderson your a fucking idiot. Reggae is one of the most popular music cultures in the world. Why would 2K use a reggae song on their most publicised and aired commercial for GTA4 if it wasnt. Massive B is actually a big producer that has worrked with the likes of Jannet Jackson and No Doubt so if you think this guy is a nobody check your facts. Why should everyone else get paid and not him?

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

You think everyone else was paid $75,000 a song for co-producing?  I hope not.

Also stating that "Reggae is one of the most popular music cultures in the world" is overstating your case.  Baz was quite clearly taking the piss for comic effect and, whilst he's probably correct in the play time of Missive B on my own gametime of GTA, I doubt he believes it true of everyone.

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

Funny story, from what I've been seeing of it, Reggae is also one of the most bland and unoriginal music cultures in the world.  I keep hearing the same distinct beats, the same scales, etc.  Of course, I think reggae since marley has been mediocre, but hey.  I've always been more of an Irish folk/punk and rock and roll guy.

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit
Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

Oh damn, Massive B was a crazy awesome radio station in GTA4. I loved all the tracks on that station.

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

$150, 000 just because his name isn't in the booklet? Must be nice to think so highly of yourself.

And if the guy didn't get paid royalties for the licensing of the song, he either needs to talk to his boys or his record label about that, not sue the people who made the game.

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

Why can't we all be friends and just listen to San Juan Radio?

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

Because it sucks.

Re: GTA IV Radio Station Prompts Music Copyright Lawsuit

No, kind sir, YOU suck

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