31 12 / 2011
Slip-N-Slide Wins $9.1 Million Ruling Against TVT | Digital Music News
Reposted from http://bit.ly/vcvw81 on December 30, 2011 at 11:37PM
Slip-N-Slide Records was recently awarded $9.1 million by a federal grand jury, a judgment that follows a longstanding dispute with TVT Records. The decision validates claims by Slip-N-Slide that TVT unfairly blocked a release from rapper Pitbull. In 2004, TVT released the Pitbull album, M.I.A.M.I., a move that happened after Slip-N-Slide dropped the artist. But Slip-N-Slide still retained the rights to release earlier tracks, and positioned its own album using 2001 recordings soon after the M.I.A.M.I. release. TVT claimed that Slip-N-Slide unfairly modified both tracks and artwork without obtaining proper permissions, including those of the artist. TVT then moved to block the release with distributor ADA, a move that effectively closed wider physical distribution of the album. In its filing, Slip-N-Slide complained of tortious interference with its ADA agreement, and denied wrongdoing in the matter. The trial, finalized last week, awarded Slip-N-Slide $2.3 million for compensatory damages, and $6.8 million for punitive damages. TVT has vowed to appeal the ruling. “TVT believes that the verdict is contrary to, and unsupported by, the evidence in the case, as well as being excessive,” TVT said in a statement. “Accordingly, TVT will be pursuing all available remedies before the district court and on appeal.” The decision was officially handed down on the 14th of this month. Story by news analyst Alexandra Osorio.
