HelloAngel
ONE love, blood, life
http://reuters.com
Courtney Love, Universal Talks Going Well-Sources
August 14, 2002 11:51 PM ET
By Sue Zeidler
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Talks between rock star Courtney Love and Universal Music to settle a closely-watched breach of contract case are progressing well and court hearings scheduled for next week could be called off, sources close to the dispute said on Wednesday.
"The next hearing is Aug. 20, but I think it's going to be resolved," said one person familiar with the discussions, adding that lawyers for both sides recently indicated they may not attend court on that date.
"Negotiations are going well," a source close to the controversial singer said. Sources declined to give any further details, and also warned the talks could still fall apart.
Officials for Universal Music, a unit of Vivendi Universal, declined comment. Love's attorney, Barry Cappello, also declined comment.
In June, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Fumiko Wasserman delayed the start of the trial as mediation talks continued in the breach of contract case. The Aug. 20 hearing was to set a trial date in the case in which a unit of Universal claims that Love owes it five records and Love claims she was cheated out of substantial royalties .
Industry analysts are closely monitoring the lawsuit, pitting the litigious pop diva, the widow of Nirvana's late bandleader Kurt Cobain, against the world's largest record group, as a pop artist-led movement challenging the terms of recording contracts gains momentum.
In a separate bitter legal dispute in Seattle over the management of Nirvana's back catalog, sources said that Love has made a written settlement proposal.
Love is suing the remaining members of Cobain's grunge band over ownership of the group's recordings and songs in the case worth millions of dollars in royalties.
Irish superstar Bono of the group U2 has been asked to testify for Love, while the band's former bandmembers Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic questioned Courtney's mental stability in court papers filed this year.
However, sources familiar with that case said that Love has recently made a written settlement proposal to the band's members. "They have not responded yet, but lawyers for Love were told to expect a response soon," said a source familiar with that case.
Love's lawyer in that case, O. Yale Lewis, declined comment, while the bandmember's lawyers also declined comment.
LAWSUITS, GALORE
While Love has charged ahead with lobbying for new laws to help struggling artists, industry figures have charged the singer/actress with being greedy and litigious.
Love's attorney in the Universal case, Cappello, had initially said a settlement was unlikely, but in June said that mediation was continuing. "While we are closer, we are not close," he said in June, referring to a settlement. The tide has apparently turned, according to sources.
The case's roots date back to December 1999 when Love decided to stop recording for Geffen, the Universal Music label named in the suit. Last year, Geffen/Universal Music sued Love, seeking millions of dollars in damages for five undelivered albums. Love countersued, also in 2001.
Universal's complaint and Love's cross-complaint will be tried together if the case goes to trial.
While several of Love's key claims have already been dismissed, the case is being watched as several pop artists challenge record labels over contract terms they say rob them of their rightful income from records.
Love has been involved with a coalition of stars led by Eagles frontman Don Henley who are lobbying for new California legislation that would free artists from what they say is "indentured servitude" to record companies because of a loophole in state labor law.
The California State Senate Committee said Wednesday that it will hold a hearing on record company accounting practices on Sept. 24.
Courtney Love, Universal Talks Going Well-Sources
August 14, 2002 11:51 PM ET
By Sue Zeidler
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Talks between rock star Courtney Love and Universal Music to settle a closely-watched breach of contract case are progressing well and court hearings scheduled for next week could be called off, sources close to the dispute said on Wednesday.
"The next hearing is Aug. 20, but I think it's going to be resolved," said one person familiar with the discussions, adding that lawyers for both sides recently indicated they may not attend court on that date.
"Negotiations are going well," a source close to the controversial singer said. Sources declined to give any further details, and also warned the talks could still fall apart.
Officials for Universal Music, a unit of Vivendi Universal, declined comment. Love's attorney, Barry Cappello, also declined comment.
In June, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Fumiko Wasserman delayed the start of the trial as mediation talks continued in the breach of contract case. The Aug. 20 hearing was to set a trial date in the case in which a unit of Universal claims that Love owes it five records and Love claims she was cheated out of substantial royalties .
Industry analysts are closely monitoring the lawsuit, pitting the litigious pop diva, the widow of Nirvana's late bandleader Kurt Cobain, against the world's largest record group, as a pop artist-led movement challenging the terms of recording contracts gains momentum.
In a separate bitter legal dispute in Seattle over the management of Nirvana's back catalog, sources said that Love has made a written settlement proposal.
Love is suing the remaining members of Cobain's grunge band over ownership of the group's recordings and songs in the case worth millions of dollars in royalties.
Irish superstar Bono of the group U2 has been asked to testify for Love, while the band's former bandmembers Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic questioned Courtney's mental stability in court papers filed this year.
However, sources familiar with that case said that Love has recently made a written settlement proposal to the band's members. "They have not responded yet, but lawyers for Love were told to expect a response soon," said a source familiar with that case.
Love's lawyer in that case, O. Yale Lewis, declined comment, while the bandmember's lawyers also declined comment.
LAWSUITS, GALORE
While Love has charged ahead with lobbying for new laws to help struggling artists, industry figures have charged the singer/actress with being greedy and litigious.
Love's attorney in the Universal case, Cappello, had initially said a settlement was unlikely, but in June said that mediation was continuing. "While we are closer, we are not close," he said in June, referring to a settlement. The tide has apparently turned, according to sources.
The case's roots date back to December 1999 when Love decided to stop recording for Geffen, the Universal Music label named in the suit. Last year, Geffen/Universal Music sued Love, seeking millions of dollars in damages for five undelivered albums. Love countersued, also in 2001.
Universal's complaint and Love's cross-complaint will be tried together if the case goes to trial.
While several of Love's key claims have already been dismissed, the case is being watched as several pop artists challenge record labels over contract terms they say rob them of their rightful income from records.
Love has been involved with a coalition of stars led by Eagles frontman Don Henley who are lobbying for new California legislation that would free artists from what they say is "indentured servitude" to record companies because of a loophole in state labor law.
The California State Senate Committee said Wednesday that it will hold a hearing on record company accounting practices on Sept. 24.
