In the matter of p/k/a Empress v. Gregory Isaacs Foundation Ltd.
May 28, 2020OUTCOME: Client secured the copyright in the song and recording as a joint work with the adverse party, who further offered promotional support of the title.
We represented songwriter and performer known as Empress who had recorded a song with legendary reggae artist Gregory Isaacs producing the music in Jamaica in 1998. The artist chose not to publish this ... recording until 2018. The foundation which represents Gregory Isaacs' estate in the Europe, Middle East & Africa territories issued a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) take down to our client. We countered that claim, negotiating a deal on behalf of our client that pleased all parties. Not only was our client's song reinstated online for distribution, but the foundation offered to promote the title on which both our client and Gregory Isaacs collaborated on their social media pages, which receive millions of views per day. In addition, the record label representing the late artist offered our client an opportunity sign as a new and upcoming artist to the African Museum Record Label upon her submitting further materials for consideration. Our client told her success story at a public gala later that year, which was held online, to raise funds for the Georgia Lawyers for the Arts.
