Sex Pistols members in High Court battle over use of band’s songs in Danny Boyle television drama

Johnny Rotten is being sued by two of his former Sex Pistols bandmates in a dispute over the use of the band’s songs.

A High Court judge is considering legal action by guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook against Johnny, real name John Lydon.

They took legal action after he objected to Sex Pistols’ recordings being used in a television series called Pistol.

Steve and Paul want a judge to rule that Johnny must consent to licences being granted but he is fighting their claim.

Judge Murray Rosen, who is based in London, on Friday considered preliminary issues in the case at an online hearing.

Detail of the dispute was outlined in written legal arguments, produced by barristers representing all sides, given to the judge. A trial has yet to be staged.

Edmund Cullen QC, who is representing Steve and Paul, told the judge that the television series, directed by Danny Boyle and based on a memoir by Steve, was in production.

He said the series required licences in relation to the Sex Pistols’ recordings and compositions and, without such licences, could be cancelled.

The lawyer said other former members, Steve and Paul, Glen Matlock, and a representative of the estate of the late John Simon Ritchie – who was better known as Sid Vicious – supported the grant of licences.

He said Steve and Paul now wanted orders ‘requiring’ Johnny to consent to the grant of licences.

Mr Cullen said in 1998 band members had entered into an agreement providing for ‘majority rule in relation to decisions’ about the grant of licences.

He said Steve and Paul sought ‘declaratory relief as to the effectiveness’ of that agreement.

‘The dispute that is the subject of this claim will require the court to determine the basis on which the former members of the Sex Pistols may exploit the copyright works written by them as members of the band, as well as various of their recordings, associated images and artwork,’ Mark Cunningham QC, who is representing Johnny, told the judge.

‘A significant commercial opportunity emerged and developed, in the course of 2018-2020, for the use of the Sex Pistols’ copyright works in a series of TV programmes (called Pistol) based on a book or memoir written by Mr Jones.’

He said Johnny was not informed of Pistol, or approached to give the necessary licences, until January 2021.

Mr Cunningham said Johnny had also not been given ‘sufficient information’ about the content of the TV programmes, and added: ‘As a result, and in accordance with his right to veto under the established regime of unanimity, (he) has refused to give the licences needed for Pistol.’

He said Steve and Paul had brought proceedings in order to negate Johnny’s ‘right to veto Pistol’.

Johnny’s lawyer said their claim was based in the 1998 band members’ agreement.

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