Hyperion Pays £££S

is grateful to Graeme Fearon of Thring Townsend for pointing him inwards the administration of this floor inwards the Guardian. Music fellowship Hyperion has settled the costs next its dispute over copyright amongst Lionel Sawkins. Hyperion made job inwards 1 of its recordings of a edition of Lalonde’s Music for the Dominicus King which Sawkins had edited into a bird that could travel played yesteryear modern performers. Sawkins sued Hyperion for copyright infringement. Both the High Court as well as the Court of Appeal works life inwards Sawkins' favour, as well as came to the determination that Sawkins’ editing of what was a pre-existing function amounted to an master musical work.

Now it appears that Hyperion volition accept to pay costs inwards the percentage of £950,000 (pretty much equivalent to a year’s “music-making” budget). As good equally its ain costs as well as damages, this includes a hefty neb from Sawkins’ solicitors, Carter-Ruck. Sawkins’ costs were governed yesteryear an “uplift” agreement, yesteryear which, if he won, he would accept to pay additional costs inwards guild to subsidise the “no-win, no-fee” organization of other clients of the firm.

Various musical luminaries accept condemned the costs bill, tilt that the hereafter of a modest music fellowship should non residuum on a misunderstanding on the company’s role close the orbit of copyright law.

says that ignorance of the police delineate is no defence. However, he does intend it quite harsh that a losing political party should travel made to subsidise the costs of cases lost yesteryear other clients of the winner’s solicitors, amongst whom the losing role has absolutely no connection.