BUSTED - EX-BUSTED MEMBERS IN COURT OVER ROYALTIES DISAGREEMENT

EX-BUSTED MEMBERS IN COURT OVER ROYALTIES DISAGREEMENT

Defunct British pop group BUSTED have been accused of "threatening" two ex-members to give up their royalty claims for several of their songs after leaving the band in 2001. Ki MCPhail and Owen Doyle claim they helped to pen four tracks including Year 3000 and What I Go To School For with James Bourne and Matt Willis when they formed a group called The Termites in January 2001. The band then changed their name to Busted after signing to a management company in March that year (01). But when MCPhail and Doyle were fired from the band 10 months later, they are alleged to have been forced by "threats" and "undue pressure" to sign away their royalty rights to Bourne and Willis. The two songs in question then became hit singles for the remaining members of Busted, with new recruit Charlie Simpson on lead vocals. MCPhail and Doyle are now seeking to have the royalties agreement overturned, citing undue influence and misrepresentation. They have filed for $20 million (GBP10 million) in unpaid royalties. Their lawyer, Tim Penny, told London's High Court on Tuesday (26Feb08), "The pressure placed on the claimants consisted of repeated advice and threats. "(My clients were told) unless they released their claims in relation to the group members' songs and in particular the four songs, they would be sued, Ki MCPhail's parents would lose their home and the claimants would never work in the industry again." Busted disbanded in 2005. The hearing continues.