P Funk Music Rights Forgery: What You Need to Know
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If you’re a fan of Parliament-Funkadelic, then you need to read this! A recent court case has called into question the validity of some of the band’s most iconic songs. Get the full scoop here.
The History of P Funk
P Funk is a musical genre that was created in the early 1970s by George Clinton. The style of music is a mix of Funk, Soul, and R&B. The P Funk sound is often described as “a wall of sound.” The genre is known for its use of extended jams, often with a driving bass line.
George Clinton and the Funkadelics
George Clinton and the Funkadelics were one of the most influential music groups of the 20th century. They created a new genre of music, which combined elements of Funk, Soul, R&B, and Rock. The group’s sound was unlike anything that had been heard before, and it had a profound impact on the course of popular music.
The Funkadelics were formed in 1966, in Plainfield, New Jersey. The group’s founder, George Clinton, was a former barber who had developed a passion for soul music. He put together a band that he called The Parliaments, which became one of the most popular acts in the Detroit area.
In 1968, The Parliaments released their first album, “(I Wanna) Testify”. The record was a success, and it led to geographic changes for both Clinton and his band. Clinton decided to move to Detroit, where he believed there would be more opportunities for his music. He also changed the name of his band to reflect the new direction they were taking: The Funkadelics.
The Funkadelics became one of the most popular bands in Detroit. They released their second album, “Free Your Mind… And Your Ass Will Follow”, in 1970. The record was an even bigger success than their debut, and it helped to cement the group’s reputation as one of the leading forces in Psychedelic Funk.
Over the next few years, The Funkadelics released a string of successful albums, including “Maggot Brain” (1971), “Cosmic Slop” (1973), and “One Nation Under a Groove” (1978). The group also found success with their singles, including “Flash Light” (1977) and “Aqua Boogie” (1978).
In 1979, George Clinton decided to focus on his solo career, and he disbanded The Funkadelics. However, many of the band’s members continued to work with him on his solo albums and projects. These collaborators included Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley, and Maceo Parker.
The history of P-Funk is long and complicated; however, its influence on popular music is undeniable. The group’s unique blend of genres helped to shape the sound of funk music, and their innovative approach to songwriting helped to pave the way for subsequent generations of artists.
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a Funk and Soul band that was most popular in the 1970s. The band was led by George Clinton, and they had a unique sound that blended elements of Rock, R&B, and Jazz. The band was known for their outrageous stage shows, which often included costume changes, fire breathing, and levitation.
In the 1980s, the rights to the band’s music were sold to Bridgeport Music, Inc. Since then, Bridgeport has been suing anyone who samples or covers P-Funk songs without permission.Bridgeport has been accused of “legal bullying” and “stifling creativity”, as many artists cannot afford to fight (>$100k) or pay (>$10k) the fees associated with using P-Funk music.
The P-Funk catalog is one of the most sampled in all of Hip Hop, so the effect of Bridgeport’s lawsuits has been felt by many artists. In 2015, George Clinton spoke out against Bridgeport, saying that they are “trying to control Funk” and that he wants to “take Funk back”.
If you are an artist who wants to sample or cover a P-Funk song, be sure to do your research and get permission first!
The Forgery of P Funk
In the world of P Funk, there is no one more important than George Clinton. As the founder of the group, Clinton’s word is law. So, when it was discovered that someone had been forging his signature on P Funk music rights, it sent shockwaves through the community. Here’s what you need to know about the forgery of P Funk music rights.
The Bootlegs
P Funk’s music has been illegally copied and distributed for decades, and the band has been fighting against it since the beginning. In recent years, however, the forgery of P Funk music has become more sophisticated and widespread, making it harder for the band to protect their intellectual property.
Bootlegs are unauthorized recordings of live concerts or studio sessions, often sold on the black market or online. These illegal copies are of lower quality than official releases, but they can still be profitable for the pirates who produce and sell them.
P Funk has found bootlegs of their concerts for sale on websites and in stores all over the world. The band has also been targeted by scammers who create fake websites that sell pirated copies of P Funk music. Many of these Sites use P Funk’s name and logo without permission, and some even claim to be official sites authorized by the band.
To make matters worse, bootlegs of P Funk’s music are often sold alongside other counterfeit merchandise such as t-shirts and hats. This makes it difficult for fans to tell which products are official and which are not.
The good news is that P Funk is aware of the problem and is working hard to fight against piracy. The band has issued cease-and-desist orders to many websites and stores that sell bootlegs, and they are working with law enforcement to shut down these illegal operations.
If you’re a fan of P Funk, make sure you only buy official merchandise from authorized retailers. This will help support the band and ensure that you’re getting high-quality products.
In the world of music, one of the most serious crimes an artist can commit is unauthorized sampling. Sampling is the act of taking a portion of another artist’s song and using it in your own composition. It’s a practice that has been going on for decades, and one that has come under increased scrutiny in recent years.
The unauthorized use of someone else’s music can have serious consequences for the offending artist. In some cases, it can result in a loss of royalties, damage to their reputation, and even legal action.
P Funk is one of the most sampled artists in hip hop history. Their unique sound has been used by hundreds of rappers and producers over the years. However, not all of these samples have been authorized by the band.
In fact, there have been several instances where P Funk tracks have been used without permission. In some cases, the band has taken legal action against the offending artist. In other cases, they’ve simply asked for royalties.
The unauthorized use of P Funk music is a serious issue for the band. It’s something that they take very seriously and are constantly working to shut down. If you’re an aspiring hip hop artist, it’s important that you do your research before sampling any music. Make sure you have the proper permissions in place before using someone else’s work in your own composition.
The Impact of the Forgery
The recent forgery of P Funk music rights has had a significant impact on the music industry. This forgery has been one of the most sophisticated and well-executed forgeries in recent memory, and has had a profound effect on the value of P Funk music. This forgery has also had a major impact on the way that the music industry values and protects its intellectual property.
The Financial Impact
When George Clinton and the members of Parliament Funkadelic found out that one of their former business associates had been selling bogus Funkadelic merchandising rights, they were rightfully upset. The forgery not only deprived Clinton and his bandmates of potential earnings, it also cast a negative light on their image and legacy.
Because of the forgery, Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic lost out on millions of dollars in merchandise sales. The fake merchandise rights were sold to companies who then manufactured and sold products without permission or compensation to the band. As a result, the band was unable to control the quality of the merchandise being sold and lost a significant amount of revenue that could have gone towards their own projects.
The financial impact of the forgery was not limited to lost merchandise sales. The false sense of security created by the forged documents also resulted in Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic signing away legitimate rights to their music. This led to further financial losses as the band was unable to control how their music was used or compensate accordingly.
The forged merchandising rights also caused problems for Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic on a personal level. The false documents created an atmosphere of distrust between Clinton and his bandmates, which made it difficult to trust anyone with their business affairs. In addition, the media coverage surrounding the forgery damaged the band’s reputation and made it harder for them to sell tickets and merchandise.
The Legal Impact
In October of 1983, George Clinton and several other members of the band Parliament-Funkadelic filed a lawsuit against former band manager Michael Thevis. Thevis had allegedly forged the signatures of Clinton and the other band members on a document that transferred the copyright ownership of some of the band’s most famous songs to him. This forgery had potentially devastating legal implications for Clinton and the other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.
If Thevis’s forgery is successful, he will own the copyright to these songs, which means that he would have the exclusive right to control how they are used and distributed. This could prevent Clinton and the other band members from ever performing or recording these songs again. In addition, Thevis would be able to collect all of the royalties earned from these songs, which could amount to tens of thousands of dollars per year.
Fortunately for Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, the forgery was discovered and Thevis was arrested. He was eventually sentenced to seven years in prison for his crime. This case serves as a reminder of the potentially devastating legal consequences that can result from copyright infringement.
The Future of P Funk
In recent years, the legality of George Clinton’s use of sampling in his music has come into question. Many of his most famous songs contain samples of other artists’ music, which Clinton has not always properly licensed. As a result, Clinton has been sued for copyright infringement on several occasions.
George Clinton’s Retirement
As George Clinton steps away from his musical career, the future of P Funk is unknown. The retirement of the band’s founder, singer, and songwriter leaves a big question mark over the group’s future.
P Funk has been one of the most influential and successful bands in music history, with hits like “Flash Light” and “One Nation Under a Groove.” The group has been nominated for dozens of Grammy Awards and has won six. Clinton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
The band is currently signed to George Clinton’s label, C Kunspyruhzy, which is distributed by Universal Music Group. It is unclear if the label will continue to release new P Funk music after Clinton’s retirement.
The band has seen several lineup changes over the years, but Clinton has always been the driving force behind the group’s unique sound. Without him, it is uncertain if P Funk will be able to maintain its place in the music industry.
The End of an Era
In recent years, the music rights of funk legend George Clinton have been the subject of much controversy. In 2016, it was revealed that Clinton had signed over the majority of his music rights to a company called provokedendings LLC, in exchange for an advance payment of $100,000. This move sparked outrage among Clinton’s fans and fellow musicians, who accused him of selling out his legacy.
Now, it seems that the situation has come to a head. On May 8th, 2018, it was announced that provokedendings LLC has filed for bankruptcy. This means that control of Clinton’s music rights will now be transferred to a court-appointed trustee.
It is unclear what this will mean for the future of P Funk. It is possible that Clinton will regain control of his music rights, but it is also possible that they will be sold off to the highest bidder. Either way, this is sure to be a blow to the P Funk brand.George Clinton’s P Funk empire appears to be crumbling.
