Sarkozy

MGMT Sues Sarkozy and an American Trend Takes Hold in France

Title: Kids
Artist: MGMT

Pols using music without the artist's permission has been a problem here for some time now, though conflict usually only results when a musician finds their work used to help elect someone they would never dream of voting for. This reached new heights when John Hall, founding member of Orleans and now a Democratic Congressman, found John McCain using his song "Still the One" without permission.

We've now exported this problem to France, where Wesleyan-grad hipster duo MGMT are suing President Nicolas Sarkozy for the UMP Party's use of the song "Kids" in online videos. Sarkozy offered an apology and one measly euro as compensation. The band, miffed, rejected the offer:

"This offer is disrespectful of the rights of artists and authors. It is insulting," said MGMT's French lawyer, Isabelle Wekstein.

Sarkozy's party recently championed a new law calling for harsher penalties for online piracy -- no word on whether this law would exact a fine greater than one euro from the UMP party.

Tags: MGMT, Sarkozy


TOPICS

Sarkozy Says Israel Accepts Gaza Truce Plan

This, of course, is welcome news for the beleagured Palestinians:

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday Israel and the Palestinian Authority had accepted a truce plan for Gaza announced by Egypt on Tuesday.

"The president is delighted by the acceptance by Israel and the Palestinian Authority of the Franco-Egyptian plan presented last night in Sharm el-Sheikh by (Egyptian) President (Hosni) Mubarak," said a statement from Sarkozy's office.

"The head of state calls for this plan to be implemented as quickly as possible for the suffering of the population to stop."