Pet Shop Boys Community

Dog wrote: Sat 25 Oct 2025, 12:27 pm

Ramzy wrote:They must be glad they got Smash out the door when they did, then!

I won't pretend to understand the complexities of US copyright law but I'm somewhat confused that this dispute focuses solely on the film release, rather than the probably much more lucrative fact that Go West is still available on streaming services? Can that licence not be revoked once granted?

Streaming services operate under mechanical and performance licenses that are typically long-term and hard to revoke once granted. Any licensing agreements made in 1993 (including co-writing credits and royalty splits) will still apply. Unless Willis can prove a breach of those original terms, she can’t retroactively block streaming or compilation releases. That’s why the lawsuit will have zeroed in on the film - “sync rights” must be negotiated separately for each use.

Gabby wrote: Sat 25 Oct 2025, 3:28 pm The driver is always money and greed, but there's a sense of cutting off your nose to spite your face here.

Tentenlad wrote: Sat 25 Oct 2025, 4:58 pm

Gabby wrote: Sat 25 Oct 2025, 3:28 pm The driver is always money and greed, but there's a sense of cutting off your nose to spite your face here.

There seems to be a history of Willis previously winning copyright claims:

Victor Willis's copyright cases
Song ownership: Willis sued to reclaim his copyright share of 33 Village People songs, arguing that the deals he signed in the 1970s were invalid.
Termination rights: His legal strategy was based on "termination rights" under a 1978 U.S. copyright law, which allows songwriters to terminate old copyright assignments after 35 years.
Case victories: Willis won a landmark case in 2015 that removed Henri Belolo's name from the credits of 13 songs and increased Willis's share of the royalties.
Band name ownership: In 2017, Willis successfully sued to regain the rights to the Village People band name.
Other legal battles: Willis has also sued former members of the group, including a $1 million lawsuit in 2009 over the use of his image and voice for promotional purposes.

Gabby wrote: Sat 25 Oct 2025, 3:28 pm The driver is always money and greed, but there's a sense of cutting off your nose to spite your face here.

PSBForTheMasses wrote: Sun 26 Oct 2025, 2:10 am 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."

Patrick Bateman wrote: Sun 26 Oct 2025, 4:17 amYes, I can't imagine how people mistakenly thought of it that way when it was being performed by the Village People.

Just like YMCA was clearly all about the virtues of staying there and In the Navy about signing up. No subtext, nothing to see here.

TallThinMan wrote: Sun 26 Oct 2025, 11:34 am

Patrick Bateman wrote: Sun 26 Oct 2025, 4:17 amYes, I can't imagine how people mistakenly thought of it that way when it was being performed by the Village People.

Just like YMCA was clearly all about the virtues of staying there and In the Navy about signing up. No subtext, nothing to see here.

It was also pure coincidence that the group comprised a cowboy, construction worker, police officer, biker, Native American and a sailor.

DopeFiend wrote: Sun 26 Oct 2025, 1:00 am Interesting to read.
From what I can tell, they're still unauthorised to use Go West, it's just a specific lawsuit about the concert film being shown on broadcast that has been dismissed this week.

By the way, PSB's email says we can expect Dreamworld Live In Copenhagen to be released in early 2026.
"Has to be delayed until early 2026" but I'd be surprised if it ever sees the light of day.
It's not a licensing issue but a personal grudge that's holding it back.

The lawsuit can apparently be filed again. It's a $30,000,000 copyright claim.
I imagine PSB's legal department will make it impossible to go through or affect Neil & Chris directly.
$30 mil is more than half of their net worth, and to be fair the March 2025 ruling was violated.

PSBForTheMasses wrote: Sun 26 Oct 2025, 2:10 am 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."