Skip to content
NOWCAST KOCO 9am Weekday morning
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Oklahoma’s ‘Tiger King’ claims his music has been stolen, files for lawsuit

He has filed for what his lawyers call a seven-figure lawsuit.

Oklahoma’s ‘Tiger King’ claims his music has been stolen, files for lawsuit

He has filed for what his lawyers call a seven-figure lawsuit.

WE’LL BE ON IT. THIS ALSO NEW HERE AT 6:00, OKLAHOMA’S TIGER KING SAYS HIS MUSIC HAS BEEN STOLEN AND HE’S FILED WHAT HIS LAWYER CALLS A SEVEN FIGURE LAWSUIT. OUR EVAN ONSTOT IS IN STUDIO WITH US. EVAN, YOU SPOKE WITH THAT LAWYER. HE SAYS JOSEPH MALDONADO SAYS HE OWNS THE MUSIC REGARDLESS OF WHO ACTUALLY WAS SINGING. THAT’S WHAT THE LAWSUIT CONTENDS, THAT JOE EXOTIC SAYS THAT AFTER HE WAS SENT TO JAIL, HIS FORMER MUSICAL COLLABORATOR STOLE HIS SONGS, RERECORDED THOSE SONGS, AND THEN EVEN SOLD THE RIGHTS TO A MUSIC LABEL. THE LAWSUIT, SAYS VINCE JOHNSON, BROKE COPYRIGHT LAW AND BROKE A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT IN THE PROCESS. THE TIGER KING’S ATTORNEY SAYS THE TWO MEN WORKED TOGETHER TO WRITE AND RECORD THE MUSIC, MUCH OF IT LIKE THE SONG I SAW A TIGER WAS SHOWCASED IN THE NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY. BUT THE LAWYER SAYS JOHNSON SIGNED AN AGREEMENT THAT WORKED WITH MALDONADO, NOT TO DISCLOSE HIS INVOLVEMENT. THE MILLI VANILLI OF IT ALL, WHICH WE ADDRESS IN OUR COMPLAINT, LOOK, IT. WHO SANG? WHAT PART OF WHAT TRACK? ISN’T THE ISSUE. IT’S THE FACT THAT THOSE WERE OWNED BY BY JOE EXOTIC. SO ONCE JOE’S IN JAIL AND YOU GOT VINCE JOHNSON AND EVERYBODY ELSE SAID, HA HA HA, HE DIDN’T REALLY SING ALL THAT WELL. THAT’S A BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. RECORD LABEL BMG IS ALSO NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT, AS ARE SOME OTHER SMALLER LABELS. ATTORNEY JOHN PHILLIPS SAYS THAT IT WILL PROBABLY BE AT LEAST A YEAR BEFORE THE LAWSUIT WOULD GO IN FRONT OF A JURY. IF IT GETS THAT FAR MUCH SOONER FOR JOE EXOTIC OR ORAL ARGUMENTS THIS MONTH IN AN APPEAL OF HIS RECENT RECENT SENTENCING ON HIS MURDER FOR HIRE CONVICTION. HE’S AL
Advertisement
Oklahoma’s ‘Tiger King’ claims his music has been stolen, files for lawsuit

He has filed for what his lawyers call a seven-figure lawsuit.

Oklahoma’s "Tiger King" said his music has been stolen.He has filed for what his lawyers call a seven-figure lawsuit. Joseph Maldonado said he owns the music, regardless of who was actually singing.Joe Exotic said after he was sent to jail, his former musical collaborator stole his songs, re-recorded them and even sold the rights to a music label. The lawsuit said Vince Johnson broke copyright law and broke a confidentiality agreement.The Tiger King’s attorney said the two men worked together to write and record the music. Much of it, like the song "I Saw A Tiger," was showcased in the Netflix documentary, but the lawyer said Johnson signed an agreement with Maldonado not to disclose his involvement."The Milli Vanilli of it all-- which we address in our complaint-- who sang what part in what track is not the issue. It's the fact that those were owned by Joe Exotic. And so once Joe's in jail and you've got Vince and everyone else saying he didn't really sing all that. Well, that's a breach of confidentiality agreement," said John Phillips, attorney for Joe Exotic.Record label BMG is also named in the lawsuit, as are some other smaller labels. Phillips said it will probably be at least a year before the lawsuit would go in front of a jury if it gets that far.Much sooner for Joe Exotic are oral arguments in an appeal of his recent re-sentencing. He’s also requested a new trial, but that motion is still pending.

Oklahoma’s "Tiger King" said his music has been stolen.

He has filed for what his lawyers call a seven-figure lawsuit. Joseph Maldonado said he owns the music, regardless of who was actually singing.

Advertisement

Joe Exotic said after he was sent to jail, his former musical collaborator stole his songs, re-recorded them and even sold the rights to a music label. The lawsuit said Vince Johnson broke copyright law and broke a confidentiality agreement.

The Tiger King’s attorney said the two men worked together to write and record the music. Much of it, like the song "I Saw A Tiger," was showcased in the Netflix documentary, but the lawyer said Johnson signed an agreement with Maldonado not to disclose his involvement.

"The Milli Vanilli of it all-- which we address in our complaint-- who sang what part in what track is not the issue. It's the fact that those were owned by Joe Exotic. And so once Joe's in jail and you've got Vince and everyone else saying he didn't really sing all that. Well, that's a breach of confidentiality agreement," said John Phillips, attorney for Joe Exotic.

Record label BMG is also named in the lawsuit, as are some other smaller labels. Phillips said it will probably be at least a year before the lawsuit would go in front of a jury if it gets that far.

Much sooner for Joe Exotic are oral arguments in an appeal of his recent re-sentencing. He’s also requested a new trial, but that motion is still pending.