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A Disappointing Experience for Sony

Summer Levy

A recent High Court case in relation to Jimi Hendrix recordings was of interest to lawyers and classic rock fans alike but is also of wider relevance in relation to copyright and the settlement of claims.

The High Court refused Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited’s (Sony) application to strike out a claim brought by the Estates of the late Noel Redding and ‘Mitch’ Mitchell.

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Court of Appeal backs compulsory alternative dispute resolution (ADR)

Andrew Koffman
Head of Litigation

A recent Court of Appeal judgment confirmed for the first time that the court can now compel litigating parties to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), such as mediation, even if the parties have not agreed to do so between themselves.

Previously it had been understood, including by the trial judge in the latest case, that the law was as set out in a 2004 Court of Appeal case (Halsey v Milton Keynes General NHS Trust).  While the courts were able to encourage litigants to take part in ADR (strongly if necessary, with the right to impose costs penalties for unreasonable refusal), to compel them to do so would interfere with their basic right of access to the court to resolve disputes under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) – which incidentally also applies to businesses in this context.

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