John Winston Ono Lennon’s (John Lennon) 87-year-old wife Yoko Ono has filed a copyright infringement suit against John Lennon’s former personal assistant Frederic Seaman. Yoko Ono claimed that Seaman is gaining profit from unauthorized selling of John Lennon’s memorabilia.
John Lennon was a celebrated English singer, songwriter, and peace activist. He was the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. On the evening of 8th December 1980, John Lennon was shot dead in New York City by Mark David Chapman.
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Series of lawsuits between Seaman and Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono and Seaman have been involved in copyright infringement lawsuits for more than 3 decades now. Yoko Ono filed the first suit in 1983 when Seaman admitted that he took private photos, letters, and journals from Lennon’s residence in Manhattan. In 1999, Yoko Ono filed another copyright suit when Seaman revealed that he stole property belonging to Lennon, which he sold in the memorabilia market and made profits.
In 2002, the lawsuit got settled when Seamen agreed to give all his copyrights in the family photos of John Lennon and to obey all the terms and conditions of the confidentiality agreement signed between him and Lennon's family in 1979. Seamen also issued a formal apology letter to Yoko Ono stating "I did wrong by you and indeed am guilty of violating your trust. After more than 20 years, it is time for me to ask your forgiveness for my actions," Seaman said, according to the lawsuit. "It is impossible to undo what has taken place. But it stops here and now. I will return any remaining things that I have that are yours. I will refrain from ever writing anything about you or your family or about my time in your employ. I offer no excuse for my conduct and only ask that you can find it in your heart to forgive so I can move on with my life."
The present dispute occurred when Seamen recently gave a 23-minute long interview discussing the life story of John Lennon and his murder. As per Yoko Ono, while Seaman was giving this interview he was surrounded by John Lennon's memorabilia. During the interview, Seaman also discussed his intent to revise and issue an expanded version of his book on John Lennon "The Last Days of John Lennon”. As per Ono, this interview is a "wilful and intentional violation" of the injunction laid down against Seamen in 2002. As per the Court order, Seaman had to surrender and give up the copyright of hundreds of John Lennon’s family photos. The Court order also required Seaman to continue to follow the terms and conditions laid down in the confidentiality agreement signed in 1979.
As per reports, Yoko Ono has sought $150,000 in damages from Seaman and is also asking Seaman to refrain from profiting by selling or appropriating John Lennon’s work and legacy.
This case tells us that copyright is not limited to literary works and expressions but also extends to the memorabilia. The use of a person's memorabilia without permission from the person’s family amounts to infringement.
Give Peace A Chance was one of the last singles that John Lennon recorded with his wife Yoko Ono in 1969. The song was released six years later in 1975.
