Rob Reiner backs Harry Shearer’s Spinal Tap $125 million lawsuit

This Is Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner has backed its star and co-creator Harry Shearer’s lawsuit against media company Vivendi.
The 72-year-old filed a $125 million lawsuit (£101.8 million) at the Central District Court of California on Monday (17Oct16) against the French film company, parent firm of Spinal Tap rights holders StudioCanal and Universal Music Group.
In the suit he accused Vivendi executives of “fraudulent accounting for revenues from music copyrights” relating to the hit rock mockumentary comedy.
Reiner, who directed the 1984 film, has backed Shearer, telling Rolling Stone magazine, “The artists involved in Spinal Tap deserve fair compensation for their work. It’s impossible that Vivendi’s income from music sales and merchandising totaled just $179 (£145.80) over a more than 20-year period.”
In his suit Shearer alleged he earned only $81 (£66) in merchandising income over a 22-year period and $98 (£79.80) for his contributions to the soundtrack, with him accusing the media firm of accounting misappropriation, fraud and breach of contract over the film and its soundtrack.
He is seeking $125 million (£101.8 million) in compensatory and punitive damages, claiming Vivendi engaged in “anti-competitive and unfair business practices” and “willfully concealed and manipulated years of accountings to retain monies due and owing to Plaintiff.”
In a video statement the star alleged executives at the company had told him the film, “hasn’t been profitable,” despite its popularity resulting in multiple theatrical, home video and musical releases.
“Filing a claim like this one is neither fun nor easy,” he said. “Going up against a major multinational is not nearly as enjoyable as playing too loud in Carnegie Hall. But people who are squashed by large corporations can’t fight back unless they have significant resources of their own. I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to fight back and I think it’s important to challenge the status quo, not just for myself but I hope for all my fellow artists, musicians and creators. After all, they depend for their livelihoods on a fair return for their hard work.”
The rock mockumentary followed the band as they struggled through a world tour fraught with mishaps and disasters.
Shearer, who played lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel in the film has writing and production credits on its soundtrack.