"Fenians" Writer Sues BBC
Byrne v. British Broadcasting Corporation
Andersonstown News - 4/29/00
DISCLAIMER:
BBC logo used only to identify adversary
West Belfast Anthem at centre of Multi million dollar case.
Brooklyn rapper and Irish-American Hip-Hop artist Chris Byrne, a member of Feile
favourites Seanchai, has launched a multi million dollar legal action against the BBC
in the US following the use of his hugely popular recording "Fenians" in a recent
Spotlight programme.
The action rose after Spotlight used the Seanchai tune in a programme about an
alleged Florida-based IRA gun-running operation in Oct 1999. The programme
proported to show that the alleged gun-running activities of a group of Irish
nationals in Florida were proof that the current IRA cease-fire was bogus in nature.
Byrne's music was synchronised over a series of images of American landmarks.
The rousing song 'Fenians' quickly became a West Belfast anthem after being
played on the Feile radio station Triple FM. An unprecedented number of requests
for the song to be played made it the most popular song in the stationís short
history. The band Seanchai have played to capacity West Belfast audiences on their
many visits to Ireland. They are expected to draw more big crowds when they play
Feile again this year.
Committed Irish Republican Byrne claims he is just the latest casualty in what he
described as "the BBCís long propaganda war against those who oppose British
policy in the North." He told the Andersonstown News, "This particular battle,
however, will be fought in an American courtroom, and is one that I am determined
to win. The BBC stole both my work and my reputation to service their theory that
Irish Republicans are fundamentally dishonest," said Chris.
"My work has always had at its core the belief that the Irish people have the right to
self-determination and independence from British interference. The BBC are part
and parcel of the apparatus of British mis-rule in Ireland, they regularly support
British government policy that is fighting not just a military war, but a propaganda
war in the North.
"They present a one-side view of the conflict, heavily biased against Irish
Republicans. By associating me with its message, the BBC have placed me in a
position of having to defend my character and integrity. After all I have stood for,
after all the benefits and the protests, it now appears to my compatriots and my fans
that Seanchai have sold out. There is none so low in the opinion of Irish
Republicans as he who takes the sovereign coin to betray his people, the damage
done to my reputation is incalculable."
Byrne's lawyer, Brooklyn based attorney Russell Smith, is confident of victory.
"The BBC's copyright infringement could not be more clear," he said. "On top of
that, the BBC's false association of its message with our client, and its use of his
performance, voice and persona, further violates federal, state and international
laws."
BBC Northern Ireland yesterday refused to comment on the case.
"There may be copyright and legal issues involved in this matter, and it would be
inappropriate to make any comment at this time," said a spokesman.
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