MUMBAI: British rock band Muse’s label Warner Music has been slapped with a $3.5million copyright infringement lawsuit.
The plaintiff, songwriter Charles Bollfrass, has accused the band of stealing his idea of ‘cinematic science-fiction rock opera- Exogenesis’ for their 2009 album ‘The Resistance’.
According to Bollfrass, he had contacted Muse along with two other bands in 2005 with the concept of a sci-fi rock opera. Muse rejected the idea the following year.
The trio then allegedly decided to ‘copy Bollfrass idea’ and unveiled ‘Exogenesis Symphony’, the last three tracks on their most recent record, 2009’s The Resistance, which is comprised of the tracks ‘Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)’, ‘Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2 (Cross-Pollination)’ and ‘Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)’. All three songs were credited to the group’s principle songwriter, singer-guitarist Matthew Belamy.
Accusing Muse of doing unfair trade practices and unfair competition, Bollfrass also claimed that the cover of the album has an image which was stolen from the storyboard of his rock opera.
Muse has responded through their spokesperson saying, “The claim is complete nonsense and is categorically denied. It appears to be based on a ‘screenplay’ which the band never received or saw, produced by someone the band has never heard of. It speaks volumes that the album in question was released three years ago, and yet this is the first that has been heard of these groundless allegations. Warner Music will aggressively defend this lawsuit, and the band is exploring what remedies may be available to them in the US in relation to these untrue and baseless allegations.”
Muse is set to release their follow-up album to The Resistance- ‘The 2nd Law’- at the end of the month.