Haugo Broadcasting and the opposing parties in a copyright infringement lawsuit involving songs attributed to Dr. Luke have reached a settlement in principle covering all claims. A request to intervene remains before the court from Johnson, who asserts authorship and an ownership interest in one of the disputed compositions.
Proceedings paused through November 6
The parties filed a Notice of Settlement and Joint Motion to Stay Discovery and Further Proceedings on October 6. They said they expected to finalize their agreement within 30 days and requested a pause in proceedings while completing its terms privately.
The court granted the stay through November 6.
The South Dakota broadcaster was also among four radio groups operating 15 stations sued in June by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) over allegations that they broadcast members’ music without the required licenses. The current dispute concerns similar allegations.
Johnson asserts rights to one composition
Johnson said her intervention materials include a declaration describing a handwritten notebook containing her compositions in early 2008. She asserts that the notebook subsequently disappeared without her permission.
According to Johnson’s account, she did not authorize Dr. Luke, whose legal name is Lukasz Gottwald, or anyone else to remove or retain the notebook’s contents. She also says she gave no permission to reproduce, submit, publish, register, license or claim ownership of them, and never signed an agreement transferring those rights.
“The original parties are attempting to resolve the infringement litigation while my separately asserted interest in one of the compositions remains before the court through my intervention request.”
Johnson said she does not contend that the settlement itself proves wrongdoing, invalid ownership or infringement by any particular publisher. Her request concerns how her asserted authorship or ownership interest will be addressed as the enforcement case moves toward settlement.
