Brooklyn space cadets MGMT are set to lock horns with a French political party after claims one of their songs was used without permission.
MGMT broke through last year with their debut album ‘Oracular Spectacular’. Spawning the summers anthems ‘Kids’ and ‘Electric Feel’ the album was a startling mixture of electro and psychedelia that features high up in many critics ‘Best Of 2008’ polls.
Amongst the many fans of the group are French party UMP, who apparently used the song ‘Kids’ without permission. According to the Guardian the party have been using the track frequently in videos and rallies.
In one of those funny coincidences life often throws up, the UMP are well known for their hard line stance on file sharing.
MGMT’s lawyer Isabelle Wekstein told Le Monde: “It seems that those who led the charge against internet users are not the most respectful of copyright.”
UMP general secretary Xavier Bertrand has insisted that MGMT will be compensated for use of their song.
He says: “The UMP is very respectful of copyright. Compensation has to be expected… and we are presently looking at whether the band was fairly compensated.”
The case is ongoing.
