Clapton Management Clarifies Suit

Eric Clapton’s management is clarifying the musician’s lawsuit against a German widow after she posted a listing for a bootleg version of his “Eric Clapton – Live USA” on eBay.

Clapton won the lawsuit against the woman, who claimed she was unaware that the CD was pirated and removed the listing a day after posting it.

The judge ordered her to pay almost four-thousand dollars for both parties’ legal fees.

Now Clapton’s management has issued a statement explaining:

“This case could have been disposed of quickly at minimal cost, but unfortunately in response to the German lawyers’ first standard letter, the individual’s reply included the line: ‘feel free to file a lawsuit if you insist on the demands.’ If the individual had complied with the initial letter the costs would have been minimal. Had she explained at the outset the full facts in a simple phone call or letter to the lawyers, any claim might, have been waived, and costs avoided. However, the individual appointed a lawyer who appealed the injunction decision. The Judge encouraged the individual to withdraw the appeal to save costs, but she proceeded. The appeal failed and she was ordered to pay the costs of the Court and all of the parties.” 

The statement went on to say, “However, when the full facts of this particular case came to light and it was clear the individual is not the type of person Eric Clapton, or his record company, wish to target, Eric Clapton decided not to take any further action and does not intend to collect the costs awarded to him by the Court. Also, he hopes the individual will not herself incur any further costs.”

Do you think this lawsuit is silly or valid?