Beatles Suit

Documentary filmmaker Ace Arts filed a $100 million suit against Sony/ATV Music Publishing alleging the company made “spurious” claims of ownership to footage from the Beatles’ first U.S. concert and kept it from releasing its film,“The Beatles: The Lost Concert.”

Photo: AP Photo
Beatles arriving in New York for first U.S. appearances. From left: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.

Ace claims the company that originally filmed the concert never filed a copyright on the footage and allowed the tape to be transferred without copyright protection, according to Courthouse News.

But after Sony claimed ownership, Ace distributor Screenvision pulled out and theaters canceled showings. In addition to the $100 million, Ace reportedly seeks a declaration that neither Sony nor the band’s Apple Corps Limited has any rights to the footage.