Oasis take legal action; auction of sound engineer's tapes withdrawn
Oasis and the Gallagher brothers have sued the band's former sound engineer Huw Richards and his son over a planned auction of unheard 1990s recordings. The auction house has withdrawn the tapes from its 3 October sale.
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The story, neutrally told
Oasis have taken legal action to stop the sale of a set of unheard recordings made by their former sound engineer Huw Richards, valued at £1.2m to £1.6m. BBC NewsN “A set of unheard Oasis recordings valued at between £1.2m and £1.6m have been pulled from an auction after the band filed an injunction.” Read at BBC News ↗ Daily MailR “are estimated to sell for between £1.2m and £1.6m” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The Daily Mail reports that Noel and Liam Gallagher filed papers at the High Court on Tuesday naming Richards, his son Owain and the Worcestershire auction house as defendants. Daily MailR “The Gallaghers filed legal papers to the High Court on Tuesday, citing their former colleague Huw Richards, his son Owain and the Worcestershire-based auction house as defendants” Read at Daily Mail ↗ It adds that Oasis Partnership, Sony Music and Big Brother Recordings are also claimants. Daily MailR “Oasis Partnership, Sony Music and the Gallaghers’ music label Big Brother Recordings are also listed as claimants.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Richards worked with the band from the release of Definitely, Maybe in 1994 until 2001, and the collection includes soundchecks and conversation between the brothers. BBC NewsN “They were collected by Oasis sound engineer Huw Richards, who worked with the band from the release of their debut album Definitely, Maybe in 1994, until 2001.” Read at BBC News ↗ The Mail says the collection is 209 DAT tapes, 73 analogue cassettes and three MiniDiscs, while the BBC describes 63 live shows and more than 100 hours of the brothers. Daily MailR “The collection is made up of 209 DAT tapes, 73 analogue cassettes and three MiniDiscs.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ BBC NewsN “which included 63 live shows, as well as soundchecks and more than 100 hours of Noel and Liam Gallagher in the 1990s” Read at BBC News ↗ Littleton Auctions, of Evesham, said the tapes, known as The Desk Tapes, were withdrawn from its 3 October auction in light of legal proceedings; the rest of the sale goes ahead. BBC NewsN “the Oasis recordings known as The Desk Tapes have been withdrawn from our October 3 auction in light of legal proceedings.” Read at BBC News ↗
Owain Richards confirmed that Oasis have sued him and his father, and said the auction was postponed so the dispute can be resolved. BBC NewsN “We have agreed to postpone the auction [of the tapes] to enable the legal dispute to be resolved either by litigation or otherwise in an orderly way.” Read at BBC News ↗ According to the Mail, Richards argues that he made and holds the recordings and so owns them, while Oasis say they retain the intellectual property and copyright. Daily MailR “He argued that as he made the recordings and has them in his possession, he is the legal owner - but Oasis say they retain the intellectual property and copyright.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Unnamed sources told the Mail that Richards is "disappointed and bewildered" and had offered the tapes to the band first, and that private talks to buy them collapsed. Daily MailR “Sources say that Mr Richards is 'disappointed and bewildered' at the rock duo's move”“the talks collapsed” Read at Daily Mail ↗
The BBC said it had contacted Oasis' representatives for comment, and the Mail said the claimants' solicitors and the auction house had been contacted. BBC NewsN “The BBC has contacted Oasis' representatives for comment.” Read at BBC News ↗ Daily MailR “Bray & Krais and Littleton Auctions have been contacted for comment.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Straight news report on the outcome: the tapes were pulled from the auction after the band filed an injunction.
- Emphasis
- Statements from the auction house and Owain Richards, and what remains in the sale.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the named claimants, Richards' ownership argument, or the failed purchase talks.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads on the Gallaghers suing and includes sympathetic sourcing for Richards, contrasting the brothers' reunion earnings with the action against him.
- Emphasis
- Court filing, claimants, law firm, the tapes' contents and Richards' side via unnamed sources.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Written before the withdrawal was announced, so it does not report that the tapes were pulled.
- Charged language
- “intimate recordings”“It feels a bit rotten to do this to him when they are off making tens of millions with their reunion.”
- For example
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“'It belongs to him. It feels a bit rotten to do this to him when they are off making tens of millions with their reunion.'” — Daily Mail
“put hundreds of hours of intimate recordings of the brothers up for auction” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Oasis have taken legal action over the planned sale of the recordings.
- The tapes were valued at £1.2m to £1.6m.
- Huw Richards' son Owain is selling them through Littleton Auctions, a Worcestershire auction house.
- The recordings date from Richards' time with the band, from 1994 to 2001.
Where accounts differ
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Ownership of the tapes
- Centre
- BBC reports the band's intervention and the withdrawal but does not set out the ownership arguments.
- Right
- Daily Mail says Richards claims ownership because he made and holds the tapes, while Oasis assert IP and copyright; a source calls the suit 'rotten'.
Oasis organisation
Oasis and their business partners are suing to stop the sale, asserting intellectual property and copyright in the recordings; the BBC reports no direct comment yet.
“Oasis say they retain the intellectual property and copyright.” — Daily Mail
“The BBC has contacted Oasis' representatives for comment.” — BBC News
Noel Gallagher person
Noel Gallagher is named with his brother as a claimant in the High Court action, according to the Mail.
“The Gallaghers filed legal papers to the High Court on Tuesday” — Daily Mail
Liam Gallagher person
Liam Gallagher is named with his brother as a claimant in the High Court action, according to the Mail.
“Noel and Liam Gallagher launch legal action against Oasis former sound engineer” — Daily Mail
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Oasis take legal action to stop sale of unheard tapes
Neutral Reports the withdrawal of the tapes and the statements of the auction house and seller.
Right1 article
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Sympathetic Presents the suit largely alongside Richards' side, quoting sources who say the tapes belong to him and that the brothers declined his offer.
- 30 Sep 01:36 First Daily MailR Noel and Liam Gallagher launch legal action against Oasis former sound engineer as he puts intimate recordings up for auction at £1.6million
- 30 Sep 13:33 +11h 56m BBC NewsN Oasis take legal action to stop sale of unheard tapes
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.