At Stake Were Rights In Songs, Including “YMCA.”
This one will stir up memories for a lot of you readers around the age of co-contributors Marc and Mike, probably like us watching “The Village People” perform on Saturday Night Live.
Victor Willis, the original lead singer of “The Village People,” prevailed in a copyright case by which he recovered partial rights to the disco group’s songs, including the unforgettable “YMCA.” On September 16, 2015, U.S. District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz (S.D. Cal.) awarded Mr. Willis $527,000 in fees and $3,000 in expenses, reasoning that he prevailed and had achieved a high degree of success in the case.
Contrary to the opening line of “YMCA” which states “young man, there’s no need to feel down,” Mr. Willis cannot be feeling that down about his fee/expenses award recently granted by the district judge.