Tim McGraw Copyright Infringement Suit Grabbing Attention
Tim McGraw's name is in the headlines after TMZ.com reported that Texas singer-songwriter James Martinez filed a $20 million lawsuit claiming that McGraw's 1997 hit, "Everywhere," is similar to Martinez's 1996 song, "Anytime, Anywhere Amanda." The lawsuit was originally filed in 2007 in federal court in Texas, but the TMZ story surfaced this week after the case was moved to Nashville. The lawsuit is attracting attention because of McGraw's name, but it should be emphasized that he didn't even write the song. He recorded it. Veteran songwriters Mike Reid and Craig Wiseman composed "Everywhere," and both of them are listed among the defendants, of course, along with McGraw's producers and record label.
I've never heard Martinez's song and have no idea whether his allegations have any merit. That will be for attorneys and the court to decide. However, I know several songwriters -- honorable people -- who got sued for copyright infringement for hit songs they wrote. Some of them won their case, and some of them lost, but none consciously attempted to rip off somebody else's work. At least I don't think they did.
The fact of the matter is that copyright infringement cases are a routine part of doing business in Nashville. They're filed all the time. And when you hear aspiring songwriters complain that they can't get anyone on Music Row to listen to their songs, it's because songwriters, publishing companies, producers, artists and record labels do everything possible to avoid any appearance (or allegation) of copyright infringement. It's why Nashville's open-door policy went away many years ago and why most of country music's most influential people work in unmarked offices on Music Row. Even if a CD or tape is never opened or played, even getting close to an unsolicited song can create potential legal problems.
Of the Martinez matter, McGraw's manager, Scott Siman, calls the allegations "absurd" and told The Tennessean newspaper, "Artists can be targets for these kinds of suits and we defend every one vigorously."
And the bigger the artist, the bigger the headline.
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MiaT says:
So what took this guy soooo long to file the lawsuit. ?????? I guess times are really getting tough. I
TJ says:
Exactly! Has this guy been under a rock and just hear “Everywhere” last year?!
heather says:
tim is awsome singer my family and i like watching him and faith sing together
Jacky7777 says:
I guess this guy has been brain dead for 11 YEARS!!! Its the title now [ not the words] that bother him- give me a break. There are many songs out there with the same title. Why artists could be suing each other all the time, if that was the case. Tim is such a awesome artist, performer, husband and dad- noone can take that away from him or his fans!
Janet says:
Has this person been living under a rock. First Tim did NOT write the song, the lyrics are the music.
Second this song was a #1 hit in 1997 that is 11 years ago.
Not only that the title of the album is called Everywhere, so it took him 11 years. The album even won the 1998 CMA album of the Year and the only country album to be picked by the fans as Radio and Records country album of the year TWO years in a row, the only one ever and that was by the fans.
The album had two songs stay #1 for 6 weeks, it produced the 1997 and 1998 Billboard Song of the Year.
So thid person just became aware of this last year, give me as break.
Janet says:
First Tim does write and has from the beginning. It has only been in the last few years though that he has felt comfortable enough to put his work on his albums. He has amazing respect for writers. Many times I’ve heard him in interviews or when accepting awards giving credit to the songwriters and stating without the song and the songwriters the artist would be nothing.
It was because of his respect for songwriters that he for many years did not put his work on his albums, to quote him, the songwriters tell a story in 3-4 minutes and he couldn’t see his work better than the songs he was being offered.
Tim did NOT write the song Everywhere, not the words or music. The songwriter that did is Craig Wiseman an amazing songwriter that has written many songs for Tim including his award winning song Live Like You Were Dying. This Craig has won Grammies, CMA, ACM’s for his songwriting. He has won Song of the Year not only for Tim but Kenny Chesney, Brooks and Dunn. He doesn’t need to steal from any songwriter he is without a doubt ONE OF THE BEST in the business.
Everywhere was a #1 single in 1997, it was the TITLE of the album. So it took this guy 10 years. This was not some hidden song that didn’t get airplay. It was HUGE, got #1 and the TITLE track of the album. An album that won the CMA Album of the Year in 1998. When they announced the winner they said EVERYWHERE. Not only that its the only country album to win favorite by the fans from Radio and Records TWO years in a row.
So why 10 years later this was a HUGE album and award winning album that had 5 #1 singles, two songs from the album won Billboard Country Song of the Year in 1997 and 1998. Have you heard It’s Your Love, that came from the EVERYWHERE album.
So for this person to wait 10 years is a joke and sorry the person is a liar.
lil kay says:
i think it is very stuiped and Tim McGraw rocks!:)