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Forest Fest: Resolution arrived at in dispute over summer festival music rights

Event to feature numerous notable acts including Ash, The Undertones, The Divine Comedy, EMF and The Cult

Forest Fest is set to feature The Divine Comedy (whose vocalist Neil Hannon is pictured above performing in Portsmouth last year) among other acts. Photograph: Rob Ball/Getty

Aodhan O’Faolain
Thu Jul 4 2024 - 19:49

A High Court dispute between the body that administers the performing rights of copyrighted music in Ireland and the organisers of the Forest Fest music and arts festival due to take place in Co Laois later this month has been resolved.

The Irish Music Rights Organisation Company Ltd (Imro) had sought an injunction over what it claimed was a failure by the organisers of the Forest Fest festival to obtain a licence allowing certain musical works, which the plaintiff claimed it holds the copyright of, to be performed.

The failure to obtain a licence in respect of the Forest Fest event, claimed Imro, amounted to a breach of its members’ copyright.

Imro sued Philip Meagher and Forestfest Limited both of Fitzmaurice House, Bank Place, Portlaoise, Co Laois. It says Mr Meagher, a practising solicitor, is a director and owner of the company.

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Both are involved in the organisation and the promotion of the event which is taking place at Emo, Co Laois, between July 19th and 21st next, claimed Imro.

[ The best Irish summer festivals in July and August, from music and comedy to literature and science ]

The organisation had sought an injunction restraining the defendants and anyone who has notice of the order from performing, playing or broadcasting musical works which it says it owns the copyright to at the event.

The injunction application, which was expected to be opposed, was due to be heard before the High Court next week.

However, on Thursday Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was told the case had settled and could be struck out.

In its action, Imro claimed that several dozen musical works over which it holds copyright on behalf of members will be played during the three-day event.

It alleged that the organisers had failed to obtain a required licence from it which would allow those works to be performed.

Imro had further claimed that unless the defendants were restrained by the court from playing the copyrighted material without the organisers obtaining a licence, the plaintiff’s rights would be substantially breached.

Forest Fest, the court heard, features a host of performers including Ash, The Undertones, The Divine Comedy, EMF, The Cult, The Human League, Something Happens, The Stunning, Stereo MCs, Paul Brady and Tony Hadley.

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