Down Under musician says he's dinkum; Sydney Morning Herald, 10/30/09

Joel Gibson, Sydney Morning Herald; Down Under musician says he's dinkum:

"Larrikin Music Publishing, which owns the rights to Kookaburra, is suing Hay and Strykert and their publishing company, EMI, claiming they reproduced more than half of Kookaburra and made a small fortune from it in royalties, licences and sheet music sales.

Larrikin wants 40 to 60 per cent of income earned from Down Under in future and in the past six years, which is as far back as the law allows. But the authors and EMI say the use of the Kookaburra melody was unconscious, and is a fair adaptation under the Copyright Act.

Even if it was an infringement, they argue Larrikin is ''over-reaching'', saying many of the 20-plus versions of the song do not contain the flute riff."

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/down-under-musician-says-hes-dinkum-20091029-hnr1.html

Video: Land Down Under ripoff claim; Sydney Morning Herald, 6/24/09

Video [1 min. 53 sec.]: Was Men at Work's Land Down Under ripped off children's classic 'Kookaburra Sits in an Old Gumtree'? Listen and see via Sydney Morning Herald; Land Down Under ripoff claim:

http://media.smh.com.au/national/national-news/land-down-under-ripoff-claim-601909.html