Created Thu 30th Jul 2009 9:38am PST by

ghostbuster Level 14, Prophet (H$161,425)

Did "Men at work"steal the melody for the song "Down under"?

Settled as Yes

Australian Grammy-award winning band Men at Work may have to pay millions of dollars in compensation after a court ruled a section of the famous 1980s hit, "Down Under," was plundered from a popular folk song.

Background:

Background: A music publisher that says Australian band Men at work stole the melody from a childrens song in hit Down under has won the first stage of a court battle.
Larrikin claims the flute riff from the 1981 hit is stolen from Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree, written by Marion Sinclair for the girl guides

Settlement details:As reported by a major mainstream news source.

Forecast history %

Yes

50%

Settled as Yes on Thu 4th Feb 4:01am PST

Activity: H$3,669
Predictions: 20
Comments: 8

Suspend date: Fri 30th Jul 12pm PST (18 weeks to go)
Settlement date: Thu 4th Feb 4:01am PST

Initial likelihoods: Yes: 50%

Action history:

Created Thu 30th Jul 2009 9:38am PST by

ghostbuster Level 14, Prophet (H$161,425)

Suspended Wed 3rd Feb 11:50pm PST by

kruijs [Power User]

: Suspended pending settlement

Settlement requested Wed 3rd Feb 11:50pm PST by

kruijs [Power User]

: Please settle "Yes":

Australia's "Down Under" band rapped for plagiarism

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6130NX20100204 (market suspended)

Settled as 'Yes' Thu 4th Feb 4:01am PST by

jenniandboys [Admin]

: Australian Grammy-award winning band Men at Work may have to pay millions of dollars in compensation after a court ruled a section of the famous 1980s hit, "Down Under," was plundered from a popular folk song.

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Suspend date: Fri 30th Jul 12pm PST (18 weeks to go)
Settlement date: Thu 4th Feb 4:01am PST details

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Predictions (20)

9 weeks ago

distantquasar Level 6, Player (H$2,963)

predicted No (H$50 at 52%)

21 weeks ago

craig814 Level 11, Legend (H$18,780)

predicted Yes (H$50 at 47%)

21 weeks ago

schnerbazoink Level 7, Pro (H$4,050)

predicted No (H$100 at 53%)

24 weeks ago

casehandler Level 10, Genius (H$14,752)

predicted Yes (H$20 at 47%)

26 weeks ago

raym823 Level 11, Legend (H$20,552)

predicted No (H$20 at 51%)

Comments (8)

cookietime Level 15, Seer (H$314,107)

Haha now that you mention it - I think you're right, that flute riff is definitely kookaburra sits in the old gum tree - i'd never noticed....

posted 33 weeks ago

ghostbuster Level 14, Prophet (H$161,425)

i am humbled that someone as wealthy and successful as yourself has graced my Newbie question with a comment. How did no one notice? It's got to be 20 years old i guess it's all in the hands of the lawyers now

posted 33 weeks ago

cookietime Level 15, Seer (H$314,107)

Heh thanks for the ego boost, wealthy AND successful :) You've done some good newbie work getting your q's to the front page so fast. Isn't there some musical rule that u can only get sued if you stole more than 15% of the song?

posted 32 weeks ago

ghostbuster Level 14, Prophet (H$161,425)

Great!, i wasn't aware i'd had a front page Q. In answer to the 15% thing, you may be correct,however, the KooKaburra song only contains 5 lines sung over and over and over and over again as i recall? So if they stole the flute bit, tha'ts 20% anyway, i think.

posted 32 weeks ago

cookietime Level 15, Seer (H$314,107)

Yap your lego house was the top question for a few days there, and now it seems to have spawned a bunch of other questions too...hmmm i didnt realise kookaburra only had five lines but i certainly cant think of any others...its not really a song then, more like a musical limerick? But yes you're right then, 20% it is and men at work are in deep trouble...

posted 32 weeks ago

buckeyetom Level 17, Superdubber (H$1,708,678)

Here is the overlay of the two songs. This is ridiculous. I don't think they sound close at all. Watch and listen. You'll have to start the video when the link opens.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/riff-row-leaves-men-at-work-up-a-legal-gum-tree-20090625-cx5i.html

posted 24 weeks ago

schnerbazoink Level 7, Pro (H$4,050)

What happens if there's no judgement on whether they stole the melody at all? For example, what if the case is dismissed because that publisher is found to not own the rights? Is that a judgement of "no" or a void question?

posted 21 weeks ago

ghostbuster Level 14, Prophet (H$161,425)

@ schnerbazoink

Federal Court judge Peter Jacobson ruled in July that Larrikin did in fact own the rights to the "Kookaburra" score, which was penned by teacher Marion Sinclair for a Girl Guides Jamboree in 1934, clearing the way for the Federal Court hearing

posted 20 weeks ago