Dee Snider Breaks Silence About The Court’s Decision Over Twisted Sister’s Copyright Battle
Twisted Sister’s frontman and songwriter, Dee Snider, recently posted a couple of tweets on his Twitter account and expressed his happiness for winning the copyright fight against business person Clive Palmer who had used the band’s ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ in his political advertisements.
Snider is one of the most well-known vocalists in the metal scene and he achieved worldwide fame as the lead singer of Twisted Sister. Although the band is not currently together, their songs are still loved by millions of fans and some have even been named ‘anthems,’ and a great example of that is ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It.’ However, the anthem has also been used multiple times by numerous groups, such as Donald Trump supporters, anti-maskers, and so on, which had highly upset Snider.
As you have probably heard, Twisted Sister and Universal Music Group had filed a lawsuit against the former Australian federal MP and United Australia Party founder Clive Palmer who used the band’s anthem in a series of political advertisements prior to the 2019 federal election. The case was closed just some days ago and Twisted Sister was on the winning side.
During the trial, Clive Palmer not only denied the allegations but also claimed that he penned his own lyrics to the melody of an 18th-century hymn and went on to claim that it was Twisted Sister that stole the melody from a Christmas carol named ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ which was not protected by copyright law. On Friday, the Federal Court Justice Anna Katzmann found Clive Palmer guilty and ordered him to pay $500,000 in damages, $1 million in additional damages in light of the flagrancy of the infringement, and legal costs.
Dee Snider recently shared this news with his fans through his Twitter account and responded to their messages. A fan told Snider that they feel very glad he won this battle ‘after watching so many politicians do what they like with musicians’ music’ and Snider said that this win was for everyone because bullies will always try to do whatever they want and ‘make up rules as they go along.’ The important thing is to stand up and say no.
Another fan asked Dee whether he’s going to receive any money from this legal battle, to which he replied by saying that he didn’t initiate this legal battle for money. He revealed that just ‘like many artists,’ he too sold his entire song catalog years ago ‘for a fortune.’ What he wanted to achieve with this legal battle to defend his creation and ‘stand up to bullies for every creative’ who has experienced the same thing but ‘hasn’t been in the position to fight.’
Here’s what a fan said after learning that Dee Snider won the legal battle against the politician who used his song without permission:
“It’s not my money; not my personal win… and yet after watching so many politicians do what they like with musicians’ music, I really enjoy this!”
To which Dee Snider responded:
“Honestly Brett, this was for everyone! Bullies like Clive Palmer think they can do whatever they want and make up the rules as they go along. Someone had to say, ‘No you can’t‘ and I thank Universal Music Group for backing me in this message!”
This is what another fan asked about the $1.2 million dollars that Snider won:
“Of that ‘win’, is any of it actually yours to keep? Not asking an exact number, just wondering if it’s actually appreciable by the time you see it.”
And Dee Snider responded:
“I have no financial interest in this settlement. Never did. Like many artists, I sold my catalog years ago (for a fortune). I fought this fight to defend my creation & to stand up against bullies for every creative who’s ever been shit on & hasn’t been in the position to fight.”
You can check out the tweets and listen to Clive Palmer’s version ‘Australia’s Not Gonna Cop It‘ below.
Honestly Brett, this was for everyone! Bullies like Clive Palmer think they can do whatever they want and make up the rules as they go along. Someone had to say, "No you can't." and I thank @umg for backing me in this message! https://t.co/G9VNetw4t6
— Dee Snider🇺🇸 (@deesnider) May 1, 2021
I have no financial interest in this settlement. Never did. Like many artists I sold my catalog years ago (for a fortune). I fought this fight to defend my creation & to stand up against bullies for every creative who's ever been shit on & hasn't been in the position to fight. https://t.co/8sVMChGyHm
— Dee Snider🇺🇸 (@deesnider) May 1, 2021
