Domino Recordings probably did not expect such a domino effect.
Pat Treacy, assistant judge on the UK's Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, has reportedly ruled that Four Tet's infringement suit against Domino can continue. The full process is expected to take place in early 2022.
Earlier this summer, Four Tet Domino sued for breach of contract, claiming the label had failed to pay its agreed streaming license fee of 50%. The label fired back, referring to a separate clause in their deal signed in 2001 that says they only have to pay 75% of their standard 18%: "Regarding records sold in technology formats other than vinyl, compact discs and analogue tape cassettes, the remuneration rate is 75 percent of the otherwise applicable rate. "
Four Tet has now visited Twitter again to inform his followers about the status of the legal proceedings.
"All of the music I've made can no longer be streamed or downloaded because @dominorecordco removed it against my will," the tweet read. "They took it down to try to end the legal battle we are in about the royalties they are paying me."
In November, Domino removed three of Four Tet's albums from streaming platforms. Four Tet was briefed on the label's intentions prior to the removals, claiming they did so to "stop the continuation of the [legal] case," he said in a tweet.
The Four Tet v Domino Records case is significant and could set a strong precedent for disputes in the streaming era. Four Tet and his legal team will now request a withdrawal of the rights to the masters for his three albums, which means he will regain control of them. You are currently owned by Domino.
