Former Ramones drummer Richard "Richie Ramone" Reinhardt has lost the lawsuit he filed last September. The suit named estate of Johnny Ramone, Apple itunes, Wal-Mart, Real Rhapsody and others for the digital use of the six songs he wrote while a Ramone.
The suit hinged on whether Richie had relinquished digital rights when he signed his contract with the band. U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin said in a ruling Friday that the contract clearly covered digital uses of his songs. She noted that the contract defining phonograph records contained the words "now or hereafter known" when referring to forms of reproduction, making it clear that future technologies are covered by the agreement. Reinhardt's six songs for the Ramones were "Smash You," "Somebody Put Something in My Drink," "Human Kind," "I'm Not Jesus," "I Know Better Now" and "(You) Can't Say Something Nice." Ramones (25 comments)
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scientistrock (April 24, 2008)
I never really understood how song copyrighting worked. Were these songs credited to Richie Ramone or the Ramones? And does that make a difference? It seems like these were recorded as Ramones songs which I figure means it doesn't matter who wrote them. Eh, whatever. 2+ Replies
Jimmy_the_Saint (April 24, 2008)
Seems like the right decision. If the contract is that clear, why even bother with the lawsuit? Our litigious society always seems to forget that you actually have to spend money to sue people. 1+ Reply
sfbarker (April 24, 2008)
Nothing is more punk than making new members sign their rights away to their songs to the principal members! Oi!
wearethestar (April 24, 2008)
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/endofthecentury/images/ramone s_richie.jpg 1+ Reply
TheOneTrueBill (April 24, 2008)
Anyone have a Ramones seal t-shirt with Richie's name in it that they want to sell me? I've been looking for one for a few years now. 2+ Replies
Jenson138 (April 24, 2008)
"You Can't Say Anything Nice" is a pretty good song. It's a B-side, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't get much money out of that. It's pretty much a forgotten song.
PhillipIck (April 24, 2008)
It's really too bad he lost the suit, I suppose he can say "I Know Better Now". In all seriousness though, I'm wearing my Richie Ramone Ramones shirt as coincidental tribute.
Ghost_of_D_Boon (April 25, 2008)
This is the same cat that quit because he claimed he wasn't getting an equal split of the merch money. The dumbass wrote six songs and only one of them became a Ramones classic. | Features
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