Settlement Reached in Unpaid Mechanical and Video Royalties and Copyright Infringement Class Action

The following is a legal notice from the law firm of Harrison Pensa LLP, of London, Ontario.

A proposed class action has been initiated in Ontario against Sony BMG Music (Canada) Inc., now Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., (“Sony”), EMI Group Canada Inc. (“EMI”), Universal Music Canada Inc. (“Universal”), Warner Music Canada Co. (“Warner”), the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (“CMRRA”) and the Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (SODRAC) Inc. (“SODRAC”), in which it is alleged that the record companies are liable for copyright infringement by reproducing certain musical works in sound recordings released in physical formats in Canada, without securing licences from the owners of copyright in those musical works and/or without payment of the necessary royalties. Various allegations are also made against the Defendants CMRRA and SODRAC. Online digital downloads and other digital products are not at issue in the class action.

Settlement Agreements have now been reached with all of the defendants. Please visit www.pendinglistssettlement.com or click here to view the legal notice.

A motion to certify the matter as a class action for the purposes of settlement, to approve a settlement class and to approve the settlements will be heard by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 10:00am at Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario.

If the settlement agreements receive court approval, further notices will be published to advise of such court approval and the procedure for claiming class member benefits.

For further information about the unpaid mechanical and video royalties and copyright infringement class action, visit the settlement website at www.pendlinglistssettlement.com or leave a message for class counsel at 1-866-924-5859