Eric Clapton won a judgement against a German widow who sold a bootleg CD of a 1987 concert on eBay. The defendant, Gabriele P. told the German newspaper Bild in November: “The CD (Eric Clapton – Live USA) is said to have been recorded illegally. I received a warning first, then the ruling. My husband bought the CD in a department store, not somewhere under the counter.” Under German law, the losing party is liable for the all costs of both parties, with the woman now forced to shell out a cool $3,820 to the rock legend.
Clapton's manager, Michael Eaton told The Guardian, “Germany is a country where sales of bootleg and counterfeit CD's are rife, which damages the industry and customers with poor quality and misleading recordings. Along with a number of other major artists and record companies, over a number of years Eric Clapton has, through German lawyers, successfully pursued hundreds of bootleg cases in the German courts under routine German copyright procedures.”
Rolling Stone reported: “Although Gabriele P. did not purchase the bootleg herself and was unaware that it was an unauthorized recording when she listed the CD on eBay, a regional court denied her lawyer’s request for dismissal and instead scheduled a December 15th court date on the matter. . . If she tries to sell the CD again, she would face a fine of (over $280,000) or six months in prison, the judge ruled.” Gabriele P. plans to appeal the ruling.
Amazingly, not too long ago, Eric Clapton spoke candidly about being cool with the occasional bootlegged gig leaking out to fans: “In the past, as a kid, you were always going to clubs and recording people — not to sell, but that's bootlegging in its way. So therefore, my attitude actually has often been, if I've seen someone in the audience with a mic, and it's a good performance, I kinda think, 'Well, I'm glad someone's got this on tape, because it's a really good night,' y'know? And at least someone's gonna be able to share that.”
IN OTHER CLAPTON NEWS
Eric Clapton will release his new single, called “Heart Of A Child” on Christmas Eve (December 24th). The tune was co-written by fellow covid vaccine skeptic, filmmaker Robin Monotti, who is currently suspended by Twitter. Last spring, Clapton appeared with Monotti on YouTube and spoke about the health issues he faced upon receiving the vaccine. (Rolling Stone)
Eric Clapton's “Heart Of A Child” features the pointed lyrics:
We lost the love of a man / I was proud to know
They locked you down boy / Made you grieve alone
Turn off the TV / Throw your phone away
Don’t you remember / What your daddy used to say
