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February 26, 2009

MGMT Sue President Of France

thumbnail icon: MGMT Sue President Of France

Turns out there's still hope of getting paychecks in indie rock, just be cool with getting low-balled by French heads of state. The Wesleyan boys are seeking damages for President Sarkozy using "Kids" as his campaign soundtrack and in two web videos without just compensation. The administration did pay 53 euros to license the track, but MGMT's lawyer claims that isn't enough to cover the additional internet usage. Sarkozy's counter offer: a sizable 1 (i.e. one) euro. Le you-got-served, MGMT. Actually, Sarkozy got served. With a lawsuit. Because that is statutory rape of his artist-fee obligations. (I'm a civil law expert, don't worry about it.) Worth noting: The French government is in the midst of pushing through extensive anti-piracy and file-sharing legislation (i.e. vague irony). Sorry Sarkozy, MGMT are a very sexy duo who have international counsel for real. And all this after MGMT taught Paris the meaning of Thanksgiving. More at BBC.

Posted at 2:03 PM by amrit
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22 Comments

"SHITPIZZA!"

Posted by: all together now at 02/26/09 2:42 PM | Reply
Score = 5 Vote up Vote down
gilsemple

fighting the system.

Posted by: gilsemple profile link at 02/26/09 3:11 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

greatest headline ever

Posted by: Run Run Riot profile link at 02/26/09 3:28 PM | Reply
Score = 21 Vote up Vote down
Mr_Blue_Angel_Dood

M = Money
G = Grabbing
M = Mongering
T = Tools

Posted by: Mr_Blue_Angel_Dood profile link at 02/26/09 3:42 PM | Reply
Score = -38 Vote up Vote down
Calliwell

Kids used in gov't marketing? I can't even wrap my head around that...it's too...wow.

Posted by: Calliwell profile link at 02/26/09 3:48 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

Go MGMT!!! As a french citizen I can say that I'm very happy with this!!! It's so ironic! And nobody talks about it in the national press...

Posted by: frederic at 02/26/09 3:53 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

You can only hope that they're doing it ironically.

Otherwise this is just completely ridiculous.

Posted by: Grand at 02/26/09 4:03 PM | Reply
Score = 5 Vote up Vote down

since when MGMT are indie rock???

Posted by: ozzy at 02/26/09 4:09 PM | Reply
Score = -13 Vote up Vote down
theniall

Great live band.

On a sidenote, 53 euros, is that it, i've spent more money on weed killer. ;)

Posted by: theniall profile link at 02/26/09 4:09 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

MGMT,

YOU SUCK.
YOU ARE NOT LEGIT.
YOU KNOW IT.
WE DO TOO.
THINK ABOUT IT.
GOOD LUCK.


SARKOZY,

YOU SUCK.
YOU ARE NOT LEGIT.
YOU KNOW IT.
WE DO TOO.
THINK ABOUT IT.
GOOD LUCK.


CARLI BRUNI,

WHAT'S UP GIRL?
CALL ME.

Posted by: MF McNutt at 02/26/09 4:30 PM | Reply
Score = -25 Vote up Vote down

its C-A-R-L-A you cunt.

Posted by: Carla Bruni in reply to MF McNutt's comment at 02/26/09 5:02 PM | Reply
Score = 29 Vote up Vote down

Karla, You still a pretty girl. CALL ME –

Posted by: MF McNutt in reply to Carla Bruni's comment at 02/26/09 8:55 PM | Reply
Score = -11 Vote up Vote down

yr pathetique enough to reply - and again, you leave no number. what a crate of rotten lumber you are.

Posted by: Carla Bruni in reply to MF McNutt's comment at 02/26/09 9:52 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

seriously best stereogum headline ever.....best anything headline ever

Posted by: bob at 02/26/09 7:31 PM | Reply
Score = 8 Vote up Vote down

go sarkozy

Posted by: eric at 02/26/09 8:40 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

go carla! :P

Posted by: danielle at 02/27/09 12:45 AM | Reply
Score = -2 Vote up Vote down

I love this

Posted by: One Weekly Gun at 02/27/09 7:59 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Don't call MGMT indie rockers. They are as corporate as they come.

Posted by: Michael H profile link at 02/27/09 9:58 AM | Reply
Score = -1 Vote up Vote down

I think the irony that some people are missing is that you have someone lobbying for illegal downloading on the internet to stop but uses a song without permission and thinks one euro would be enough for compensation, I say kudos to MGMT even though they suck and are incredibly boring live--stick it to the man!

Posted by: Bobby Gillespie at 02/27/09 11:17 AM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

Viva MGMT!

Posted by: freedom fry at 02/27/09 4:02 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

oh sarko, le pauvre! je suis sûre que c'est l'influence de carla bruni parce qu'elle est vachement branchée.

Posted by: charlotte at 03/01/09 1:35 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

€53?! Darn, I thought MGMT were huge over there. That's just peanuts! I'm sure Kevin Barnes got more for the Outback ad!

It's incredibly stupid that a national government won't follow simple laws like this. Sue the man just for the stupidity!

Posted by: d33r profile link at 03/01/09 4:09 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

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