Go West Dreamworld dispute

[nonesuch]

For those who wish to plough through the whole summary of the case!
https://business.cch.com/ipld/WIllisTennant20251022.pdf

Next, Plaintiff performed a "skip trace" on Tennant and Lowe and sent service to the United Kingdom address provided from the trace. (See id. ¶ 6.) Plaintiff also states that there is "an ongoing attempt" to effect service on Tennant and Lowe at a different United Kingdom address. (See id. ¶ 7.)

Chris has trained his whole life for this moment.

[andmaste]

For those who wish to plough through the whole summary of the case!
https://business.cch.com/ipld/WIllisTennant20251022.pdf

I think there will be a second episode...

[andmaste]

By the way... I've read the document, but I have difficulties to understand it completely.
What is Plaintiff asking for? What does she want? Money? Public apologies?

[TallThinMan]

By the way... I've read the document, but I have difficulties to understand it completely.
What is Plaintiff asking for? What does she want? Money? Public apologies?

I asked ChatGPT to summarise:

What the Plaintiff Wanted

Willis sued Tennant, Lowe, and Warner Music Group for copyright infringement.
She claimed that:

- She owns the copyright to the Village People song “Go West” (assigned to her in 2013)
- The Pet Shop Boys’ version of “Go West” and its inclusion in the concert film Pet Shop Boys Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live were unauthorised
- She had denied Warner Music Group permission to use the song in that film, yet the movie was still shown in 2024 – including in California – and later broadcast on PBS and planned for Blu-ray release

In essence, she wanted the court to hold Tennant and Lowe liable for infringing her copyright by performing and allowing the use of “Go West” in the film and related media, and to obtain legal remedies for that alleged infringement.
She also asked the court for permission to serve the defendants through alternative methods, since she had trouble formally serving them in the UK.

Court’s Decision (22 October 2025)

Judge Todd W. Robinson granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss and denied Willis’s motion for alternative service, on three main grounds:

1. Lack of personal jurisdiction:
- Tennant and Lowe live in the UK
- Their Copenhagen concert and the film distribution were not “expressly aimed” at California
- The court found no sufficient connection (“purposeful direction”) between them and the state to justify jurisdiction

2. Failure to state a claim (Rule 12(b)(6)):
- The complaint didn’t plausibly allege that Tennant or Lowe themselves reproduced, distributed, or publicly performed the infringing film
- The film’s creation and release were handled by other companies
- Merely saying they “engaged in acts” of infringement was too conclusory

3. Insufficient service of process:
- Willis never properly served the UK-based defendants under the Hague Convention
- Serving their California lawyer was invalid
- Her request for court-approved “alternative service” was denied because using the Hague Convention wasn’t unduly burdensome, so the court saw no reason to bypass it

[markus]

By the way... I've read the document, but I have difficulties to understand it completely.
What is Plaintiff asking for? What does she want? Money? Public apologies?

They wont even answer the call at Neil's office, that's how absurd it is. You shouldn't dress up in silly costumes and sing about phone sex if all you ever wanted was a little respect.

[Vintage Youth]

Maybe this sheds a little bit light to the background of the case.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 2221454790

From Mr. Willis:

"No. Go West was not written about sexual liberation in the west. I ought to know since it was me that wrote the lyrics to the song (not Jacques Morali). However, I don't mind that some people interpret it as a Gay call to the West. The lyrics were actually about me trying to convince my then wife, Phylicia Rashad, to move from New York (the North) to my home city of San Francisco (the West). Hence Go West."

"He (Neil) is not disrespectful about his misinterpretation of the song being about a Gay call to the West because it's OK with me how others have mistakenly thought of it that way. I'm alright with Gays considering Go West to be one of their anthems and how it has come to be that. However, it was disrespectful of Neil to suggest that somehow the Pet Shop Boys version is better than the Village People original version. That's what I plan to talk to Neil about and ask him not to repeat that statement."

Perhaps the background video during the song added to his recent dislike of PSB.

That's the best bit.

[leesmapman]

Or maybe Willis doesn't like that it is changed to 6/8 instead of 4/4.

[Sandy Shaw]

Now I really have found an awful Village People track: "Sodom and Gommorrah" (for real)...

[petshopgrrl]

For those who wish to plough through the whole summary of the case!
https://business.cch.com/ipld/WIllisTennant20251022.pdf

Next, Plaintiff performed a "skip trace" on Tennant and Lowe and sent service to the United Kingdom address provided from the trace. (See id. ¶ 6.) Plaintiff also states that there is "an ongoing attempt" to effect service on Tennant and Lowe at a different United Kingdom address. (See id. ¶ 7.)

Chris has trained his whole life for this moment.

Yeah, he should pass some tips on to Neil. It's not like Neil's been hiding under a rock these last few weeks.

So the case was dismissed because Karen Willis didn't have her paperwork in order? She still has three weeks to appeal, so I guess we're not out of the woods yet.

How did the live movie make it out to theatres and PBS if they didn't have a sync license for a new video compilation?

[Flaffer]

I take it as a matter of principle the royalties he’s received from PSB version will be donated to a worthy cause or two. This issue would be almost as logical as the US Navy wanting to use In The Navy as a recruitment tool, oh hang on …..

[Ramzy]

Or maybe Willis doesn't like that it is changed to 6/8 instead of 4/4.

God I'd forgotten about that. Think I might be on Willis's side after all

[DopeFiend]

it was disrespectful of Neil to suggest that somehow the Pet Shop Boys version is better than the Village People original version. That's what I plan to talk to Neil about and ask him not to repeat that statement.

That seems fair. I don't know why Neil Tennant and his management have stood their ground against making amends.
A simple apology and promise not to repeat that statement, it seems doable.

Where's the info from that it's a $30,000,000 claim?

from the March document.

[Tentenlad]

There has to be an excuse / reason for Willis to dispute use of the track. They can’t just say they don’t like the already agreed agreement. The whole disputing the use of Go West on dreamworld dvd now is just about opening up a reason to renegotiate the original agreement. I.e it’s all about getting more money.

[markus]

The 1992 demo is just as awful as the original. It's evident how much polishing this turd needed to become a football anthem.

Psb filled their own albums with ringtones and other junk. If they admit maybe they can settle in court.

[symco]

They do do alot of cover versions I'm surprised others haven't followed is there money to be made when you haven't written it yourself?