Lyricist Sues Direct Financing Over Song Lyric in Loan Ad
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Lyricist Yaakov Rotblit is suing Direct Financing for 300,000 shekels over alleged copyright infringement. Rotblit claims the company used a key phrase from his song in a loan advertisement without permission. The ad, featuring comedian Ben Ben-Baruch, has been removed from social media. Rotblit also alleges a violation of his moral rights and seeks damages for economic infringement, lack of credit, and harm to the work's integrity.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Lyricist Yaakov Rotblit is suing Direct Financing for 300,000 shekels over song lyric copyright infringement.
- The lawsuit concerns the use of the phrase "to take your hand in yours" in a loan advertisement.
- Rotblit claims the unauthorized use violates his economic and moral rights as a creator.
- The advertisement featuring comedian Ben Ben-Baruch has been removed from social media.
- This is Rotblit's second legal action concerning the lyrics of this specific song.
Lyricist Yaakov Rotblit is suing the company Direct Financing for 300,000 shekels, alleging copyright infringement for unauthorized use of a phrase from his song in a loan advertisement. The lawsuit, filed in the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court on October 19, claims the company used the line "to take your hand in yours" from the 1979 song, which was composed by Mati Caspi and performed by Yehudit Ravitz, in a commercial featuring comedian Ben Ben-Baruch. The advertisement, which appeared on social media platforms including Direct Financing's and Ben-Baruch's Instagram accounts, has since been removed by the company. Rotblit argues that using the central phrase of his song to promote commercial services without permission or payment constitutes copyright infringement, even if it's a single sentence, provided it is a significant and identifiable part of the work. He also claims the use violates his moral rights as a creator, asserting that associating a "sensitive and intimate love song" with financial products like loans, which can involve debt and economic distress, damages the work's spirit and his reputation. Rotblit further contends that the ad may mislead viewers into believing he endorses the company or its services, and that he was not given proper credit. He had previously sent a warning letter on August 20, demanding the ad's removal and compensation within seven days, but claims the company did not respond adequately. This is not Rotblit's first legal battle over the song; in 2005, he successfully sued an event venue for using its lyrics in advertisements, winning 80,000 shekels. Composer Mati Caspi also previously won a copyright case in 2022. The lawsuit seeks damages for economic copyright infringement, lack of credit, and violation of the integrity of the work, citing potential compensation of up to 100,000 shekels per infringement without proof of damage, and arguing that commercial use can 'burn' a work for future advertising opportunities.