The copyright case that stemmed from the classic hit song "Happy Together" by the Turtles is set to go on the highest court of New York. The band is in dispute with Sirius XM Radio over whether the copyright owners of the recordings made before 1972 have a common law right to make radio stations and others pay for their songs.
According to Business Insider, American rock band 'The Turtles' will go all the way to the court in order to protect the copyright of their 1967 hit song, "Happy Together". The case has been referred to the Court of Appeals from federal appeals court.
A limited copyright protection to recordings has been set up by the Federal law which took effect after the 15th of February in 1972, "while preserving state law property rights on earlier recordings," Rivet News Radio quoted.
Now, the case centers on Flo & Eddie Inc., which owns the The Turtles recordings and the Sirius XM Radio Inc., which is known as the United States' biggest radio and internet-radio broadcaster, ABC News cited.
The Turtles, who are Grammy Awards Hall of Famers, include Howard Kaylan, the lead vocals and keyboardist; Mark Volman, who was in vocals as well; Al Nichol, who played the guitar, organ, keyboards and backing vocals; Jim Tucker, the rhythm guitarist and backup vocals; Chip Douglas, who worked on the bass guitar, arrangements as well as backup vocals; and John Barbata, the band's drummer.
"Happy Together" became a hit song back in the year 1967, which was released under the album of the same name. The song stole the top spot from 'The Beatles' song, "Penny Lane" for three weeks at the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, it has become the band's only chart-topper song.
The song also became known in the United Kingdom as it reached number 12 over the country's Singles Chart back in April 1967. The song was written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, former members of a band known as 'The Magicians'.
