Jim Johnston/WWE - Who owns the copyright?

Hey all,


Having an argument and decided I'd bring it here to see if any boardsies have anything to say.

I was going to post this in the music section, but considering how oddball WWE can be at times, I thought maybe the PW forum was the best place for it.

So anyway.. We all know Jim Johnston, if not by name, then through the medium of entrance music he has created for many years for the company.

For those unaware, Johnston is the music composer in WWE. He writes most of the music and plays the vast majority of it himself (with the obvious exceptions of the odd song by Finger Eleven, Saliva, etc. which are still written by Johnston, though).


So anyway... the argument that arose was, "why does Johhnston create so many different tracks that will never get released?"

Personally, I am of the thought that Johnston owns everything he produces, and it is then hired/sold to WWE in such a way that WWE can use the track as often as they like, but the copyright of the tracks is still in Johnston's hands. I would assume they have a contractual agreement saying that when Johnston dies, the copyright to all his work produced for WWE will transfer over and become WWEs (thus they'll own the tracks).


With that in mind, I'd imagine that Johnston could whip up a CD of any music that has not been used by WWE, and release his own album.


Am I right? Completely wrong? (I know nobody knows, except Johnston and Vince, but I'm just looking for a 'most likely' kind of answer).


Cheers

Willie Stroker

I presume its WWE , Vince wouldn't risk that all, he has everything in contract its a normal job you produce and and give it on . He does a great job btw.Funny enough I was reading his wikipedia , ermm who could he sell it to TNA the money is in WWE

The Volt

I'd hazard a guess that WWE owns all of the rights. Sure don't they even own the names? Dwayne Johnson can't use 'The Rock' for things outside WWE anymore.

Tribesmen7

I'm not well up when it comes to this sort of stuff but I always assumed Vince and the WWE owned all the music Jim Johnston creates. Infact I'm pretty confident that I'm right. I dont think Vince is stupid or mad enough that he would allow someone else to own the rights for the music/entrance themes that are created for the wrestlers. Jim Johnston gets paid (and I'd say pretty well) to do his job but anything he creates is owned by the WWE.

jaykhunter

Jimmy Hart wrote "American Made" for WCW and TNA is now using it (even though WWE now owns WCW) so if Jim Johnson had a similar deal; he could quit WWE and go to TNA and use all the proper songs.

Honestly though I think Vince is smart enough to "own" everything Jim Johnson produces so such a thing couldn't happen. So when Jim creates it, it's WWE's and not his.

Reganio 2

I reckon he is like any other employee at WWE he has his job to do for Vince, I am sure he gets paid very very well for it, but he isn't creating the music for himself he is creating it for Vince, so Vince's name is on everything.

I can see where you guys are coming from, but I'm still not entirely convinced.

Look at the classic DVDs for example. Demolitions theme is one of Many that gets Dubbed out. Rick Derringer is behind it, I believe (also behind 'Real American'). I'd imagine that Derringer made these themes for WWE, but still owns them himself, and if WWE want to use them they must pay for the music.

I just feel that johnston would be in a similar position? Yes, his studio is owned by WWE, and it's almost a certainty that all of his music will be used by WWE at some stage or another, be it for a promo video, entrance theme or TV Show opening, but I still get the feeling that JJ owns all his own music.


I keep looking at this as though Johnston is the photographer at Vince's wedding. Yes, Johnston is being paid by Vince, and he will supply vince with the photos, but at the end of the day, they're still Johnston's photos.


Does that seem at all feasible?

jaykhunter

it does sound quite feasible, i'll ask some paid wrestling reporters and see if anyone bites :pac:

dlofnep

Slightly off topic - But did anyone notice that alot of the old WCW themes are/were being used by TNA? NWO, Wolfpac, Booker T, Steiner, and so on?

jaykhunter

dlofnep wrote: »

Slightly off topic - But did anyone notice that alot of the old WCW themes are/were being used by TNA? NWO, Wolfpac, Booker T, Steiner, and so on?

it's not just the themes that are being re-hashed

dlofnep

jaykhunter wrote: »

it's not just the themes that are being re-hashed

Do you have any evidence to prove that it's ok for them to re-hash it? I've heard this before.

jaykhunter

dlofnep wrote: »

Do you have any evidence to prove that it's ok for them to re-hash it? I've heard this before.

I don't think i can prove it to you but since TNA are doing it, and they're not being sued is pretty good proof! I think covers and parodies are fine; TNA weren't sued for Shark Boys' theme or any of their WWE-like themes so...:o

Motley Crue

I know for a fact that the WWE built a studio for him a few years ago where they could record as much as they like....and I would presume they own all rights first and foremost to their material...so that's why wrestlers who went to WCW in the mid 90s couldn't just buy their theme music from Johnston and use it wherever they went...

Motley Crue

Motley Crue wrote: »

I know for a fact that the WWE built a studio for him a few years ago where they could record as much as they like....and I would presume they own all rights first and foremost to their material...so that's why wrestlers who went to WCW in the mid 90s couldn't just buy their theme music from Johnston and use it wherever they went...

The studio is part of Titan Towers.

Maybe they could buy them, but Johnston wouldn't sell (which would make sense as it'd be career suicide for Johnston). Or, more sensibly, WWE have exclusive rights to some of Johnston's work?


Themes in TNA are remakes of themes. They sound similar, but are not the same. Much like AWR made their own versions of themes of WWE wrestlers that were appearing on their shows.


In saying that though, TNA could use the actual nWo theme if they wanted. The theme belongs to a porn company. This is why WWE dumped the theme from DVD releases and such and made their own version;

nWo theme - "Rockhouse"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEwxKsTpx7g

WWE's nwo theme - "Poison"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oSZtQ6_Z88

Motley Crue

I like the original better, and I could see it being used in a porno, although if I ever saw that I'd just laugh