Eric Clapton.Photo: Gus Stewart/Redferns
Eric Claptonis backing down after he and his management team drew flak forinitiating legal proceedings against a German widowwho unknowingly tried to sell a bootleg copy of one of his albums.
The “Wonderful Tonight” rocker, 76, said that the woman no longer has to pay both his and her own attorney’s fees, a sum that reportedly totaled about $3,900.
Social media criticism erupted against Clapton last week after he sued a woman for listing a pirated version of hisEric Clapton – Live USAalbum for $11 on eBay — and won, according toDeutsche Welle.The negative attention came amid other headlines criticizing Clapton for his anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown approach to the COVID pandemic.
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The woman, known as Gabriele P., claimed that she was unaware the CD was pirated, and removed the listing a day after posting it.
In their statement, Clapton’s management team said the case “could have been disposed of quickly at minimal cost,” but evolved into something greater after the woman’s lawyers replied and said, “Feel free to file a lawsuit if you insist on the demands.”
The statement doubled down on the fact that costs would have remained “minimal” had the individual “complied with the initial letter” or “explained at the outset the full facts in a simple phone call or letter to the lawyers,” but that she instead appointed a lawyer, whose appeal against the decision failed, resulting in his client having to pay the costs of the Court and all of the parties.
The woman reportedly told the court that her late husband had purchased the CD at a store, but the judge said that the fact that she didn’t acquire the CD herself was irrelevant, and ordered her to pay for the legal fees,The Guardianreported.
Eric Clapton.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage
Clapton’s management team said that Germany is one of several countries where sales of unauthorized bootlegs are “rife, which harms both the industry and purchasers of inferior product.”
It noted that should there be a case where an individual is selling unauthorized items from their personal collection, any costs would be minimal – if not waived – should the person withdraw the items after receiving a “cease and desist” letter.
Clapton’s management team also said that it’s his lawyers and team, and not him personally, who are the ones who identify the legality of items for sale. The statement said the musician is not involved in individual cases, 95 percent of which “are resolved before going to Court.”
source: people.com
