Musicians Sue AFM Over Video Game Work Dues

Several LA musicians have filed suit against the American Federation of Musicians and AFM Local 47 over work dues collected for new one-off video game buyout recording agreements. Recording musicians David Parameter, Anatoly Rosinsky and Andrew Shulman claim they were unlawfully charged work dues for a non negotiated buyout and the dues should be returned to Local 47. They are looking to up the anti and turn their claim into a class action suit against the organization.

The AFM is very disappointed, of course, and would much rather the musicians drop the suit and join their efforts to fight piracy for the greater good.

In a statement to Film Music Magazine, AFM President Tom Lee said, “It is regrettable that individuals have been convinced to go down this path. The AFM hopes that cooler minds will prevail and this ill advised action will be abandoned so that we can concentrate our efforts on matters of greater concern to a wider group of musicians throughout the US and Canada. We need to focus our efforts on passing the performance rights bill which will benefit musicians in the United States. Piracy, intellectual property matters, tax law, social security reform, and health insurance are all items that may be before Congress and each will have a collective impact on a large group of AFM members and their families. We urge these individuals who filed the lawsuit to join the huge majority of their brothers and sisters in working for positive change that will affect a greater number of our members instead of taking negative action which ultimately threatens the welfare of our members.”

It seems it’s OK for the AFM to rip off their own members but piracy of music is abhorrent and should be punished with extreme prejudice. I fail to see the difference.

via Film Music