This is just too good not to pass on.....

Metallica Sue Canadian Band over E, F Chords
07.15.2003 1:55 PM EDT


"It's just a matter of a band having the right to protect the chords it uses. I couldn't start up my own soft drink company using the exact same formula as Coca-Cola." - Jill Pietrini, Metallica's lawyer

MONTREAL - Metallica are taking legal action against independent Canadian rock band Unfaith over what they feel is unsanctioned usage of two chords the band has been using since 1982 : E and F.
"People are going to get on our case again for this, but try to see it from our point of view just once," stated Metallica's Lars Ulrich. "We're not saying we own those two chords, individually - that would be ridiculous. We're just saying that in that specific order, people have grown to associate E, F with our music."
Metallica filed a trademark infringement suit against the indie group at the US district court for central California on Monday. According to the drummer, the continued use of the two chords causes "confusion, deception and mistake in the minds of the public".
Metallica's lawyer, Jill Pietrini, told us that the band decided to take legal action only after first sending a letter of complaint to the Canadian band's singer/songwriter, Erik Ashley.
"We sent a demand letter and haven't reached a resolution, so we had to sue," she said. "They continue to shamelessly feature the two chords on their website song samples and we just can't have that."
Ashley, in the meantime, is still shocked by the entire story, and hasn't yet decided how the band will respond.
"I thought it was a prank at first," he told us. "Now I'm not sure what to think."
Ulrich states that he's not trying to prevent Unfaith from using the two chords, only that he feels Metallica should be credited for them whenever used, and is calling for 50% of all revenue generated from any song using them.
"It's nothing personal against them," he added. "We intend to enforce our rights with any band intending to use Metallica-branded chords in the future."
This marks the first time anything of this kind has ever been tried in court, and it will be interesting to see how things develop.

Metallica's website has issued an official statement on the suit here.

Unfaith's official website hasn't officially responded at print time.

I think the answer is simple here. It's just time for Metalica to grow a little and learn two more chords so they then have a grand total of four chords they can play. Yes,, I realize the amount of patience and practice required by the Metalica bandmembers, but think of the direction of modern rock if they set a new standard of excellence in this difficult to master art form.. Golly,......imagin......just the thought of it!

Scott Langholff

I wonder if we all transposed to say B to C chords if we would still be in violation. My guess is no, because unless the two new chords they learn are B and C, then we won't be playing exactly the same. Maybe if they did learn B and C chords, we could all take out a class action suit against Metallica.
lol. ugh.

Scott

Excuse me, I'm just a frustrated punk rock wanna be. hahaha

This is a riot!

"It's just a matter of a band having the right to protect the chords it uses. I couldn't start up my own soft drink company using the exact same formula as Coca-Cola." - Jill Pietrini, Metallica's lawyer

That's like Coca Cola suing Pepsi because they use carbonated water in their products.

I guess Metalica isn't selling enough records anymore.

Al

Since Beavis and Butthead disapeared, so did their fan base, I guess! What a crock.

That is the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard LOLOLOLOL !!!!!!! I guess Bach's relatives could sue the whole music world. Those guys are a group of stupid whinners and I wish they would just act like men and not little sissy babys. David B.

Maybe Blinkers could contact their lawyer about joining their team. Let's admit it now, blinkers does have a way with words. Even if they are assinine. Ha! Ha!
Boo

I'm just waiting for the individual copyright holders of the chords E and F to show up.

Ding Dong!!!!!

Oh, excuse me the men in the funny white coats are at the door.

And who was it that said smokin' rope doesn't effect your judgement? Now I know who that commercial was talking about, with the two fried eggs.....these are your brains on drugs. Man how ludicrious.
Terry

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Wasn't there a post about a year ago that dealt with a suit trying to copyright "silence" ????? Who ARE these people !

Ok. Listen up. I have just copyrighted F#dim.
Please ask for permission to use it or expect to hear from my attorney.
Eddie

Jen, my fiance says I'd better hurry up and copyright C, G, and like Am while they are still available.

She also thought I'd better lay claim to E7, A7, D7 and G7 or I'll be SOL!

Hey, you know what? I could then sell the rights to them on ebay along with the free styles that are for sale.

Great life huh?

lol

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 07-20-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 07-20-2003).]

Eddie,
Technically you only claimed "F#dim" that's fine, I'll just play a G flat dim instead

...... the worst part about this is that some court is going to have to take the time ($$$$$) to decide if the case has value and is worth hearing ... and don't be surprised if that's the way it goes ....
to quote UD "what a crock" !!! ....
t.

"Be Quiet Riot"?

I love the B minor chord. I hope it stays in the public domain. I think it would be a shame to lose that wonderful chord.
Star

I think Metallica is being unfairly judged. The only two chords they should be guilty of using are actually E and F demolished...

Okay....I've got dibs on Eb maj7th.
Phew....hope I got that one registered in time. E and F....hmmmm, I guess when you only play one string, they might have a case...but wait...doesn't it have to be in TUNE first!!!!

Metallica lawsuit hoax floods Web:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/07/17/ctv.metallica/

(Court TV) -- Radio stations and Web sites were flooded yesterday with news that the seminal heavy metal band, Metallica, had launched yet another lawsuit to protect its music from theft. This time, the rock pioneers were purportedly suing a Canadian band called Unfaith for trademark infringement over the use of a "Metallica-branded" chords E and F.

The only problem: The story was a ruse.

"That's a hoax," Metallica's Los Angeles-based lawyer, Jill Pietrini, told Courttv.com.

.....AND so the story goes, yada yada.

Full story at: http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/07/17/ctv.metallica/

Chord changes by themselves are NOT copyrightable. In fact bebop jazz musicians commonly improvised over the chord changes to well known popular songs, composing entirely new melodies. For example, the Classic jazz number, "Donna Lee", composed by Charlie Parker is played over the same chord changes as the old standard "Back Home Indiana". And don't forget the Gershwin classic: "I Got Rhythm" in which its chord progression is now commonly referred to as "Rhythm Changes':
http://www.mandolincafe.com/rhythmchanges.html

and found in Ellington's "Cottontail" & "Lester Leaps" among many hundreds of other songs which incorporate these same chord changes.

Scott

That is very interesting Scott. I don't have a problem improvising on chords (new melody line), but coming up with new chord progressions is a little bit more challenging.
Star

E,F....who in their right mind wants to sound like Metallica???

If it brings in million of dollars, I don't care what I sound like!

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Roy-Andrè

Hmmmm, that's where we are different. i don't ever expect to get rich during my lifetime, but I sure do intend to enjoy the ride !

Damn, Leon, I wanted that one... okay I'm claiming AbMaj7 ....
"in tune" ?!? .. what's that ...
t.

UD,
I'd spend some years playing crap for zillions, then I'd spend the rest enjoying the ride......tremendously, at least as much as you! Imagine, never again worrying if I ever got paid for a single job!!
Ok, if you now tell me we are different, I don't believe you......
Roy-Andrè

Just to expand on Scott's post, here are some of the tunes and chord sequences used by Charlie Parker:

Ah-Leu-Cha - I Got Rhythm
Bird Gets the Worm - Lover Come Back to Me
Chasing the Bird - I Got Rhythm/Honeysuckle Rose
Half Nelson - Ladybird
Klaunstance - The Way You Look Tonight
KoKo - Cherokee
Little Willie Leaps - All God's Chillun Got Rhythm
Meandering - Embraceable You
Ornithology - How High the Moon

etc.

As Scott says, there's no copyright on chord sequences.

Bryan

I would just like to repeat Nigel Tuffnel's (of Spinal Tap) famous quote, "Dm is the saddest of all keys".

sigh ... believe what you want. We are different, my friend.