Concert Streaming Site Wolfgang’s Vault Sued By Led Zeppelin, Santana, Others

Well, you knew this would happen: Some of rock ‘n’ roll’s biggest names, including Grateful Dead Productions, Carlos Santana and members of Led Zeppelin and The Doors, have teamed up to sue the Wolfgang’s Vault, the site which recently launched a service streaming rare concert recordings (which by the way is an absolutely stellar collection). The service is rock concert promoter Bill Graham’s musical archives…William Sagan, a California entrepreneur bought the assets of Graham for $5 million from Clear Channel Entertainment more than three years ago. The idea was that the service will stream music until it finalizes negotiations for recordings and downloads.
The suit claims the site was illegally offering recordings to stimulate sales of other products (like t-shirts, posters, apparel and others things). “Sagan simply doesn’t have the legal rights to exploit and profit from the extraordinary success of these musicians,” Jeff Reeves, who represents the artists, said in a statement.
Variety: Lawsuit contends that Graham did not have the right to sell, reproduce or otherwise exploit these materials as a promoter, therefore neither does Sagan. Handbills and posters for shows at the Fillmore were customarily given for free to attendees. The plaintiffs are seeking the seizure and return of the recordings, damages and profits Sagan has made plus a permanent injunction barring him from selling items or streaming recordings. (He’s not charging for streaming music.) They are asking for a jury trial.

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