WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court sided with a music producer in a copyright case Thursday, allowing him to seek more than a decade's worth of damages over a sample used in a hit Flo Rida song.
The 6-3 decision came in a case filed by Sherman Nealy, who was suing over music used in the 2008 song “In the Ayer,” by the rapper Flo Rida. It also was featured on TV shows like “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Nealy's suit says he didn't know his former collaborator had inked a deal with a record company while he was in prison that allowed the sampling of the song “Jam the Box." He sued in 2018 for damages going back to the song's release.
Copyright law says suits must be filed within three years of the violation, or the point when it's discovered. The record company, Warner Chappell, argued that means Nealy would only be entitled to three years' worth of royalties at most.
The question of how far back damages can go has split appeals courts, and it's one that industry groups like the Recording Industry Association of America called on the Supreme Court to decide.
The opinion handed down Thursday was written by Justice Elena Kagan, and joined by her liberal colleagues Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson as well as conservative justices John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
“There is no time limit on monetary recovery. So a copyright owner possessing a timely claim is entitled to damages for infringement, no matter when the infringement occurred,” Kagan wrote.
An attorney for Nealy, Wes Earnhardt, said the opinion gives clarity on an important issue.
Three conservative justices dissented. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that the majority sidestepped the important question: Whether Nealy's claim was valid to begin with, or whether copyright holders should have to show some kind of fraud in order to sue over older violations. The dissenters said the suit should have been dismissed.
FILE - Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
MILAN (AP) — Before the sun set in Milan on Sunday, San Siro had two stars shining brighter than ever as Inter Milan finally got its title celebrations underway.
While Inter fans had been celebrating since last month when the Nerazzurri secured the Serie A title with five rounds remaining, the players finally got their hands on the trophy after the final home match of the season — a 1-1 draw against Lazio.
The title was Inter’s 20th, earning it a coveted second star and after the match all the players wore special team shirts that had “20” and two stars on the back. They were each called out individually to walk to the stage and get their medals, with Lautaro Martinez coming out last — after coach Simone Inzaghi.
The Inter captain then lifted the trophy up to cheers from a still-packed San Siro as fireworks were set off behind them.
The players paraded the trophy around the edge of the field and were joined by their close friends and family, who had been waiting in an area sectioned off for them near the stage.
The father of Inter forward Marcus Thuram was also present, proudly wearing an Inter shirt — albeit back-to-front so that his son's name was on his chest. Lilian Thuram, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, played as a defender for Parma and Juventus.
Musicians and Inter fans Tananai and Ligabue performed a mini concert.
Even questions over the financial status of the club couldn't dampen the spirits. There are reports that Suning and Inter President Steven Zhang could lose control of the club early next week if it fails to repay a debt of nearly 400 million euros ($434 million) to American investment fund Oaktree.
“This is a matter for our shareholders … I can only guarantee that the club is very solid and, with Zhang at the helm we have followed a virtuous path on a balance sheet level,” Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta said. “I would challenge anyone to check by looking at our accounts.
“Whatever decision the Zhang family takes, it will be for the good of the club that they love.”
The festivities started before kickoff as there was a spectacular pre-match choreography that covered every inch of the stands at San Siro to mark the occasion.
One side of the stadium had two stars on it and the Scudetto symbol, while the other spelled out the phrase “champions of Italy.” The ends had the Inter logo and the number 20.
Denzel Dumfries headed in a free kick late on to rescue a draw for Inter after Daichi Kamada had fired Lazio in front in the first half.
RELEGATED AFTER 11 YEARS
Sassuolo was relegated from Serie A after 11 years in the Italian top flight.
A 2-0 loss at home to Cagliari doomed Sassuolo to Serie B and ensured Claudio Ranieri’s team stayed up.
Cagliari moved three points clear of the relegation zone with one round remaining, but two of the teams below it – Udinese and Frosinone – play each other on the final day.
RELEGATION FIGHT
There are four teams at risk of finishing in 18th spot and following Sassuolo and bottom club Salernitana – which was mathematically relegated last month – into Serie B.
Empoli currently occupies that spot after conceding an equalizer in the 14th minute of stoppage time in a 1-1 at Udinese.
Empoli thought it had got a valuable win against a direct rival for safety when M’Baye Niang converted a penalty in the final minute after Nicolò Cambiaghi was tripped by Udinese midfielder Lazar Samardžić.
However, deep in stoppage time Samardžić went from villain to hero by converting another spot kick to ensure Udinese remained a point above the bottom three.
Empoli replaced Frosinone, which moved two points clear with a 1-0 win at Monza.
Hellas Verona is the other team not yet safe but it has a match in hand, against Salernitana on Monday.
ROMA KEEPS HOPING
Roma beat Genoa 1-0 to secure a sixth-place finish in Serie A and keep alive its slim hopes of sneaking into the Champions League.
Italy could have six teams in Europe’s elite competition next season if Atalanta defeats unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final on Wednesday. Roma has three more points than seventh-place Lazio but a better head-to-head record which is the first tiebreaker in Serie A.
Roma’s chances of getting something from Sunday’s match appeared to diminish in the 72nd minute when Leandro Paredes was booked for dissent and then shown a second yellow and sent off for appearing to swear at the referee.
However, Romelu Lukaku headed in what proved to be the winner seven minutes later.
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Inter's Hakan Calhanoglu and Mirko Arnautovic celebrate their victory of the "scudetto" after the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Inter's Lautaro Martinez celebrates their victory of the "scudetto" after the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Inter Players and head coach Simone Inzaghi, center back, celebrate winning the Scudetto after Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Inter's Marcus Thuram celebrates their victory of the "scudetto" after the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Inter's Lautaro Martinez celebrates winning the Scudetto after Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Lazio's Daichi Kamada, left, scores his side's first goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Lazio's Daichi Kamada celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Inter's Denzel Dumfries, right, celebrates after scoring 1-1 goal during the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Inter players celebrate their victory of the "scudetto" after the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi and Inter football players celebrate winning the "scudetto" after the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Inter players celebrate their victory of the "scudetto" after the Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
