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Glee-inspiring show choir facing copyright suit

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Glee-inspiring show choir facing copyright suit

Don't Stop Believin!

The show choir organization that inspired Fox television's hit 'Glee' has just received the legal equivalent of a slushie to the face.

Scottsdale, Arizona-based Tresona Multimedia L.L.C. is suing Burbank High School Vocal Association and several high-ranking association officials for alleged copyright violations for failing to license the music used in many of its show choir performances, according to a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California on June 29. Tresona has accused the association of infringing on its copyright of songs such as “(I've Had) the Time of My Life” — the theme song of the 1987 classic film “Dirty Dancing.”

The association promotes show choir festivals and events that generate more than $100,000 in net income per year, according to the lawsuit. The association has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses, including $89,000 for travel and nearly $100,000 for costumes in the 2014-15 school year, but has refused to pay for the required copyright licenses for the Burbank Show Choirs since December 2014, according to Tresona.

“None of the defendants has ever paid any songwriter or rights holder a single dollar for the custom arrangements that defendants created, commissioned, recorded and disseminated related to the Burbank Show Choirs,” the lawsuit said.

The company is seeking damages of up to $150,000 per copyright infringement and is asking the court to permanently enjoin the defendants from further infringement, according to the lawsuit.

Glee revolved around fictional show choir New Directions, of the equally fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. The show was known for tackling major social issues such as high school bullying and sexual identity and was a phenomenon during its six seasons, leading to sold-out concert tours and millions of dollars in merchandise sales before its final episode aired in March 2015.

Sounds like Burbank may have more in common with rival show choir Vocal Adrenaline than the New Directions.

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