Last year abounded with stories of musicians frustrated by politicians making unsanctioned use of their music. Much of this surrounded the 2020 US election, and much of the controversy involved artists frustrated that the Trump campaign was playing their songs at rallies. But a recent legal ruling across the Pacific Ocean reveals that the United States isn’t the only place where such conflicts occur — and in this one, the artist involved just secured a big legal win. One might even say that this artist is, well, not gonna take it.
That would be entirely appropriate, as the artist in question is Dee Snider, onetime Twisted Sister vocalist. For years, Snider has been pretty outspoken over who he does and does not want using his music for political purposes. And in Australia, Snider secured a substantial legal victory.
Ultimate Classic Rock has more details on the ruling, which centered around Clive Palmer, who used a song decidedly similar to “We’re Not Gonna Take It” when he ran for office in 2019. A judge recently ruled that the song did indeed infringe on Snider’s copyright. After the ruling, Snider took to Twitter to celebrate.
As part of the case, Snider revealed that Palmer and his campaign had attempted to license the Twisted Sister song. When that didn’t work, they evidently decided to write their own.Palmer — one of Australia’s richest people — now owes $1.2 million as a result of the ruling.
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