Go West Dreamworld dispute

[VRIDD]

Go West is back!

[Sandy Shaw]

The performance was June 19, : Taranto, Italy – Medimex Festival by the way - got a small clip of it on Facebook.

[DopeFiend]

Came here to report the same. They're performing Go West, just like that!
I wonder what happened, but how marvelous to be able to do the song live again.
I thought it would never happen.

Last time they performed Go West was in September 2024.

[nicmtrt]

At the Paris concert, before and after "Go West", Neil didn't mentioned the death of Victor Willis that was announced earlier the same day.

[Sandy Shaw]

At the Paris concert, before and after "Go West", Neil didn't mentioned the death of Victor Willis that was announced earlier the same day.

No need to really...sorry to say but the dispute is obviously still a sore point...

[nicmtrt]

At the Paris concert, before and after "Go West", Neil didn't mentioned the death of Victor Willis that was announced earlier the same day.

No need to really...sorry to say but the dispute is obviously still a sore point...

Totally agree, that was my point

[Vintage Youth]

Last night in Lytham after it was performed, Neil wished everyone "Happy Pride"

Proper order.

[ElectriCity]

Analysis of the Court Ruling in Willis v. Tennant (S.D. Cal., Case No. 25-CV-491 TWR (DEB), October 22, 2025)

This is a federal district court Order Granting Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss issued by Judge Todd W. Robinson. The court dismissed without prejudice Karen L. Willis’s First Amended Complaint (on behalf of Harlem West Music Group, assignee of rights in “Go West”) against Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe (Pet Shop Boys), and Warner Music Group. Dismissal was based on three independent grounds (any one sufficient): lack of personal jurisdiction, failure to state a claim, and insufficient service of process. The plaintiff’s motion for alternative service was also denied.

1. Factual Background (as Summarized by the Court)
• Victor Willis (lead singer of Village People and co-writer of “Go West” with Jacques Morali) had assigned copyright interests to his wife Karen Willis.
• A previously good relationship existed with the Pet Shop Boys until January 2024.
• Victor Willis saw a video in which Neil Tennant allegedly spoke critically of the original Village People version → attempted phone call refused → revocation of approval for use of the song.
• The Pet Shop Boys performed their version on July 7, 2023, in Copenhagen (before revocation).
• A UK production company (with no ownership interest by Tennant/Lowe) filmed the concert for the Pet Shop Boys Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live film (theatrical release early 2024 worldwide, including California; later on PBS; planned Blu-ray).
• Warner Music Group sought synchronization clearance from plaintiff’s agent, which was denied, yet the performance footage was still included.

The dispute blended personal grievance (offense over Tennant’s comments) with copyright claims (unauthorized use in the concert film).

2. Grounds for Dismissal
a) Lack of Personal Jurisdiction (Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2))
• Legal Standard: For non-residents (Tennant and Lowe in the UK), general jurisdiction (domicile) or specific jurisdiction applies. Specific jurisdiction requires purposeful direction/availment, relatedness of the claim, and reasonableness (drawing on Calder v. Jones effects test for tort-like claims such as copyright infringement).
• Court’s Analysis:
• No allegations that Tennant or Lowe personally took intentional acts expressly aimed at California.
• They did not control or contribute to the distribution of the film (handled by a third-party UK company).
• Allowing a third party to distribute a global product (including in California) does not constitute “express aiming.”
• The alleged harm did not arise out of or relate to any specific conduct by the defendants in California.46
• Outcome: Dismissed without prejudice. This ground is particularly significant in cross-border entertainment cases.
b) Failure to State a Claim (Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6))
• Copyright Infringement Elements: Ownership (undisputed) + violation of an exclusive right (reproduction, distribution, public performance, etc.).
• Court’s Analysis:
• The allegations were too conclusory and not plausible: the complaint broadly asserted that defendants “engaged in acts causing” the film to infringe, without specific facts showing their direct involvement in reproduction, distribution, or public performance of the film.
• Tennant and Lowe did not themselves reproduce or distribute the concert film; a separate entity did.
• The live performance predated the revocation of approval.46
• This reflects the Twombly/Iqbal plausibility standard — complaints must allege concrete facts, not legal conclusions.
c) Insufficient Service of Process (Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(5))
• Plaintiff’s attempts (pro se): email to manager, mailings to California/UK addresses, “skip trace,” and FedEx to defendants’ California counsel (Peter Anderson) during settlement talks.
• Deficiencies:
• No service under the Hague Convention (standard for UK defendants), despite feasible timelines (30–90 days).
• Service on counsel was invalid (lawyer’s office ≠ defendants’ “place of business”).
• Disputes over actual receipt.46
• Alternative service motion denied.

3. Procedural Aspects and Broader Implications
• Without Prejudice + Leave to Amend (21 days): Plaintiff could have refiled a corrected complaint, but docket records later show a voluntary dismissal (February 2026).
• Pro Se Context: Karen Willis (an attorney) represented the entity herself, which may explain procedural shortcomings.
• Scope: The ruling does not decide the merits of copyright ownership (Willis’s rights were acknowledged) or the validity/ timing of revocation. It is procedural/technical.
• Context: This fits Victor Willis’s long-running efforts to reclaim Village People song copyrights (successful terminations in earlier cases). The suit appeared driven as much by personal offense as by financial/sync rights.

Overall Assessment
This is a straightforward, technically sound dismissal that highlights common pitfalls in international copyright litigation against artists: forum selection, pleading specificity, and proper international service. It does not broadly undermine Willis’s underlying copyright interests but shows the high bar for holding performers liable for third-party film distribution. The personal elements (Tennant’s comments and refused call) did not strengthen the legal claims.

[Nickname]

"Hello, where are you?, pick up the phone, please!".

Neil didn't do it.

[Tentenlad]

So they were earning money from a song that would have disappeared into obscurity
Saw an in interview where Neil said he didn't like the original version (to be fair it was awful)
Had a hissy fit about it and tried to re arrange the long standing agreement for use of the track (to get more money)
Failed
Died

[Disco.]

Yeah, the original is awful !

[TwizzleUK]

After the long wait for the Blu-ray release, it's a shame they weren't able to hang on until this verdict to get the release out there with 'Go West's included. Wonder if they will bring it out again with the original packaging and discs that were manufactured with 'Go West'? Be good if those that bought it were given the chance to get replacement CD2s and Blu-ray 2s somehow.

[Disco.]

After the long wait for the Blu-ray release, it's a shame they weren't able to hang on until this verdict to get the release out there with 'Go West's included. Wonder if they will bring it out again with the original packaging and discs that were manufactured with 'Go West'? Be good if those that bought it were given the chance to get replacement CD2s and Blu-ray 2s somehow.

Probably not, will be a bit expensive.

[petshopgrrl]

After the long wait for the Blu-ray release, it's a shame they weren't able to hang on until this verdict to get the release out there with 'Go West's included. Wonder if they will bring it out again with the original packaging and discs that were manufactured with 'Go West'? Be good if those that bought it were given the chance to get replacement CD2s and Blu-ray 2s somehow.

Probably not, will be a bit expensive.

Also, the voluntary dismissal of the case doesn't translate to automatic approval of the use of the song on the DVD. She was suing PSB for damages for unauthorized use of the song - that's the part that was dismissed.

[psbfannyc]

Photos from Victor Willis funeral: https://www.tmz.com/2026/07/21/village- ... s-funeral/