Deadmau5, real name Joel Zimmerman, is making use of his legal team and once again it is over a dispute with a former label. The "Strobe" producer is suing his former label Play Records, which is run by ex-collaborator Meleny "Melleefresh" Brown over alleged remixes and mashups that he did not authorize as per terms of their agreement.
According to documents (via The Hollywood Reporter), Zimmerman began working with Mellefresh and Play Records in 2006 and recorded several tracks with her. In 2007 he moved to London and linked up with Dean Wilson at 24 Management, which was a part of Three Six Zero Group, which later merged with Jay Z's Roc Nation. During this period he became dissatisfied with Melleefresh and the agreement he had with Play Records. To get out of his contract he had to settle with a sum of money and give up ownership to early composition including his first hit "Faxing Berlin."
This is where the new lawsuit comes into play. That old agreement allegedly outlines how Play Records could use recordings of deadmau5's music. According to deadmau5, the agreement required Zimmerman's written consent for any "new" remix that changed the melody and/or lyrics.
In regards to future remixes, the agreement states according to mau5. "The Settlement Agreement expressly provided that Zimmerman did not waive his moral rights with respect to any so-called future remixes - if any were to be made - because by definition any future remix had not been created yet. Thus, Zimmerman would have no way of knowing in advance whether they were objectionable or whether he would want his name disassociated with them; i.e. in order to protect his right of paternity to remain anonymous and not be associated with them."
Six years later, Play Records has allegedly released remixes of his works without his prior approval that are "not of good technical and commercial quality." If you are going to remix deadmau5, at least do it well and he may go along with it.
He is demanding a whopping $10 million in damages on each cause of action, which is likely excessive, but will certainly get the attention of Play Records who now has to fight someone with millions of dollars in the bank and a team of laywers at his side.
