Law lords hear song dispute

A MUSICIAN who wrote the haunting organ part of pop classic A Whiter Shade Of Pale went to the House of Lords yesterday to try to win a share of the song’s royalties.

Lawyers involved in the case say it is the first time that the law lords, who preside over the highest court in the land, have been asked to decide on a copyright dispute involving a rock song.

Procol Harum’s massive worldwide hit of 1967 became the subject of a long-running legal dispute when Matthew Fisher, the former organist with the group, claimed he was entitled to a share of royalties from the song, named the most played tune in British public places over the past 70 years.

He has asked the law lords to make a final decision after the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling that he was entitled to 40% of the future royalties.

The hearing will also set wide-ranging guidelines for how long a person can wait before bringing any case to court. Mr Fisher waited 38 years.

A Whiter Shade of Pale has earned the status of an enduring classic and still earns substantial royalties.