Lawsuit over ATHF theme song
claims he's owed royalties from Cartoon Network and Schoolly D
Nov 10, 2006
(Source: www.bcdb.com)
Drummer Terrence Yerves filed a copyright violation lawsuit against gangsta rapper Schoolly D and the Cartoon Network on Tuesday, claiming he co-wrote the theme song for Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
He claims his contributions were crucial to creating the untitled song, which bookends the hit animated show. Yerves also wants an injunction "impounding of all copies of the show on DVD and to order the defendants to cease and desist from further broadcasting of the show, which is in violation of plaintiff's copyright."
He also named Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting System in the lawsuit.
The musician told the U.S. District Court in Eastern Pennsylvania that he co-wrote the song with Schoolly D (real name Jesse B. Weaver Jr.) during a 1999 session at the Meat Locker recording studio in Philadelphia.
Schoolly D is known for such hip-hop singles as "PSK," "Gucci Time," "Cheeba Cheeba" and "Parkside 5 2."
Yerves claims he also programmed the rhythms, and played drums and percussion on the song at Schoolly D's request.
The lawsuit claims Schoolly D didn't tell the Cartoon Network that the song came from their collaboration. It says that "defendants falsely filed for copyright protection on the show knowing that plaintiff's music enjoys copyright protection, even though the plaintiff did not register such protection until May 16, 2006."
Yerves claims he officially copyrighted the song with the Library of Congress on that date in May.
The drummer admitted he knew the song could be used for a TV show, but never consented to allow the Cartoon Network to use it for Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
Yerves wants $150,000 per episode aired after the date of copyright registration.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force is currently being made into a feature film, due in February of 2007.
