Record Label Sues Drummer for Missing Gig!

without permission. >> Judge Judy: Mr. Dyer, you have a complaint that's sort of interesting. There's only one part of it that I'm interested in. The other part of your complaint is that you and the defendant enter into sort of an agreement that you're a sort of amateur writer of music -- lyrics and melody. The defendant plays the guitar. You have another career. So does he. And you agreed with him to rent a studio so that he could create music -- the music that you had written lyrics to and mel

ody to, and he would put that all together from all the different parts and make music. You rented the studio. You paid for the studio. You claim that he didn't produce anything during that period of time. You finally threw him out of the studio and took it over yourself. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Judge Judy: And lived in it? >> No, ma'am, I lived in my van. >> Judge Judy: Okay. But you took over. >> After I took it over, I did, yes, Your Honor. >> That's not true, Your Honor. >> Judge Judy: Just a seco

nd. >> Mm-hmm. >> Judge Judy: That's all I'm saying. After you took over the lease from him, 'cause he hadn't produced anything, then you lived in it. Whether you lived in it before or after, it's not relevant, 'cause I'm not even considering the studio. Do you understand? >> Yes. >> Judge Judy: The only part of your complaint that I am going to consider is whether or not, if you did the music and lyrics and the defendant titled that music in his name only, it would seem to me that that would be

grossly unfair. You would agree with that, Mr. Lick? >> That I copyrighted it? I did. >> Judge Judy: No, you would agree that if you in any way titled the music which he provided the melody and lyrics to, you provided the musical background and the guitar -- If you titled that in only your name, that would be unfair. >> Absolutely. >> Judge Judy: Did you? >> I did not. >> Judge Judy: Did you title it in both your names? >> I did. >> Judge Judy: May I see proof of that? >> Yes. Authorship is rig

ht there. >> Judge Judy: Well, why didn't you copyright it in both your names? >> Well, I was urged to do the copyright. At first, I did not want to do it. >> Judge Judy: Just a second. I don't care whether you wanted to do it, whether somebody forced you to do it. This gives him certain attribution. >> Mm-hmm. >> Judge Judy: But it lists you as the copyright claimant, and I'm asking you why. >> Well, he left it up to me to copyright. I don't have any expertise in the copyrights. I didn't unders

tand what I was copyrighting. Initially, we decided everything should go down 50-50, and I still honor that agreement. >> Judge Judy: No, I'm just asking you. >> Yeah. >> Judge Judy: That's the only thing that I'm interested in. >> Yeah. >> Judge Judy: That it would seem to me to be fair. That was your original agreement -- that you were going to collaborate and make music. >> Mm-hmm. >> Judge Judy: Okay. >> Judge Judy: Now, these songs... Title of work -- "God Over All, EP" -- Is that it? >> Ye

s, ma'am. >> Judge Judy: Okay. Was there a cost, Mr. Lick, to copyright this? >> There was. >> Judge Judy: And how much? >> It was roughly $55. >> Judge Judy: Okay. And you have no objection if Mr. Dyer amends the copyright to include his name? Copyright claimant would be both names. >> Yes, Your Honor. I would have no objection to that. >> Judge Judy: You would have no objection to that? >> Absolutely. >> Judge Judy: Okay, so you would have no objection in signing a document today saying that,

"Raymond Dyer has my permission and authority to add his name as copyright claimant along with mine on 'God Over All'"? >> I would be happy with that, Your Honor. >> Judge Judy: You have a problem with that? >> Your Honor, um -- >> Judge Judy: Just a second. That's why you're here. >> Yes, I understand that, Your Honor. >> Judge Judy: That's why you're here. You're not here for money, because money, you're not getting. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Judge Judy: You're here because you say it was unfair of Mr

. Lick, who did list you -- and you've seen the copyright papers. >> Yes. >> Judge Judy: So, you see that you were listed as author along with Mr. Lick. He's prepared to allow you to assume the responsibility of amending the copyright to make you co-copyright claimant. >> Your Honor, I've tried to get Dave to do this for 10 months. >> Judge Judy: Just a minute! I just did it! >> Yes, ma'am. >> Judge Judy: Now, so what's your complaint? He's going to sign a document allowing you to do it. He will

sign whatever papers that they send to him to sign. If you have them, he'll sign them now. Do you have them? >> Can he sign them like this, Your Honor? >> Judge Judy: Sure. Let me see. >> I wrote the melodies and the lyrics. >> Judge Judy: Listen to me. >> Excuse me? >> Judge Judy: I don't care. >> Well, like, he's got to sign it the right way. He's the composer of it. I'm the lyric writer. I want him to sign that I wrote the lyrics and the melodies, he wrote the guitar. I've always wanted him

to do that, for 10 months. He won't do it. If he'll do it with you, I appreciate that, ma'am. >> Judge Judy: Just a second. I'm reading your complaint. Oh, what you're asking for is you're asking him to sign over the copyright to you... >> Yes, Your Honor. >> Judge Judy: ...in your complaint. Well, that you're not gonna get. He's prepared -- >> I want him -- >> Judge Judy: Listen to me. This is what he's prepared to do. He is prepared and I am prepared to have someone draft that document that yo

u can be listed. You assume the responsibility of the work to do it, as the copyright co-claimant on the certificate of registration. So, you're already listed as an author. >> Yes, Your Honor. >> Judge Judy: Okay? Now, the song is going nowhere,