Eric Clapton Sues Fan For Selling $15 CD - Noise11.com
Eric Clapton photo by Ros O'Gorman

Eric Clapton photo by Ros O'Gorman

Eric Clapton Sues Fan For Selling $15 CD

by Paul Cashmere on December 20, 2021

in News

Eric Clapton has successfully sued a woman who was selling a bootleg CD for just £8.45 ($15).

Clapton had taken legal action against a 55-year-old German woman identified only as Gabriele P, who had claimed she was unaware she was committing copyright infringement by listing ‘Eric Clapton – Live USA’ – which contained recordings of performances from the 1980s – on auction site eBay.

Lawyers in Germany had sent a letter to the woman about the listing, and she had replied: “I object and ask you not to harass or contact me any further. Feel free to file a lawsuit if you insist on the demands.”

An injunction was filed and the court found in Clapton’s favour, with the woman then appealing the verdict, stating she had removed the listing after one day and that her late husband had originally bought the CD in a popular German department store.

Gabriele lost her appeal, with the judge insisting it was irrelevant she didn’t buy the CD herself. The court ordered her to pay both parties’ legal fees, which totalled £2,889 and warned her that if she continued to list the disc for sale, under German copyright law she could be fined up to £212, 353 or jailed for six months.

Michael Eaton, Clapton’s manager, said: “Germany is a country where sales of bootleg and counterfeit CDs are rife, which damages the industry and customers with poor quality and misleading recordings.

“Along with a number of other major artists and record companies, over a number of years Eric Clapton has, through German lawyers, successfully pursued hundreds of bootleg cases in the German courts under routine German copyright procedures.

“Costs are usually minimal unless the case is argued in court, which is what happened here as the lady instructed her own lawyers. Now that the full facts of this particular case have come to light, the intention is that the formal German proceedings will not be pursued any further.”

The woman’s lawyer told Bild newspaper that they intend to appeal again.

music-news.com

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

The Beach Boys, Al Jardine 2012: Photo Ros O'Gorman
Beach Boy Al Jardine To Tour Australia With Brian Wilson’s Touring Band

The Beach Boys founding member Al Jardine is coming to Australia in October and touring with Brian Wilson’s band of musicians.

3 days ago
Brian Wilson performs Pet Sounds at the Palais in St Kilda on Sunday 3 April 2016. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Beach Boys Catalogue Surges On Chart Following Passing of Brian Wilson

Following the sad news of co-founder Brian Wilson’s death last week, The Beach Boys’ 2003 compilation The Very Best Of The Beach Boys: Sounds Of Summer surges 73 places midweek (17).

3 days ago
Ed Sheeran photo by Ros O'Gorman
Ed Sheeran Wins Shouting Out Loud Copyright Case

Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud copyright lawsuit won't proceed to the US Supreme Court.

3 days ago
The Who Roger Daltrey. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
The Who’s Lead Singer Is Now Sir Roger Daltrey

Meet the new Knight, same as the old Knight. Roger Daltrey has been knighted by King Charles III making his Sir Roger Daltrey for his work with the Teenage Cancer Trust.

6 days ago
The Guess Who
The Guess Who To Reunite With Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings For First Time In 23 Years

Canada’s The Guess Who have announced they are getting back together for the first time with Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings in 23 years.

6 days ago
The Kinks The Journey Part 3
The Kinks Premiere Live Version of ‘Sunny Afternoon’ Ahead of ‘The Journey Part 3’

The Kinks have released a live version of their 1966 hit ‘Sunny Afternoon’ recording at the Royal Albert Hall in 1993.

7 days ago
Hank Marvin's Gypsy Jazz
Hank Marvin’s Gypsy Jazz To Play Two Shows In Perth

Hank Marvin Gypsy Jazz is playing occasional shows in 2025 with Perth just announced for two September shows.

June 12, 2025