Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. v. Continental Record Co.

Plaintiffs, eleven music publishers, brought suit in November 1964 against defendant, a New York corporation manufacturing phonograph records, for unauthorized use of copyrighted musical work. In December 1964, defendant’s answer admitted that it had used the works in question, and that license agreements did exist; however, it denied that any royalties were due and owing. In April 1966, an order was entered in a companion case1 against defendant on the issue of liability, referring issues of damages to a special master. Shortly thereafter, defendant’s attorneys, who also represented it in…