Earlier this week, MBW revealed that two UK-based businesses which controlled rights to the Deep Purple catalogue had fallen into administration.
As we reported, ReSolve Partners has now been appointed as the administrator for Limited Deep Purple (Overseas) Ltd (“DPO”) and HEC Enterprises Ltd (“HEC”).
ReSolve Partners are continuing to trade the Companies whilst offering the businesses and assets for sale – while noting that any ongoing licencing requests and provision of statements should continue to be made to Wixen Music UK Limited on behalf of the Companies.
However, Deep Purple themselves say their assets cannot be sold without their say-so, and that they had commenced legal proceedings against DPO and HEC before the firms fell into administration.
“In short, our position is that neither HEC nor DPO can… dispose of oR deal with those copyrights as between themselves and unidentified third parties.”
The remaining members of Deep Purple – Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, Roger Glover – along with Victoria Lord, widow and executor of the Estate of Jon Lord, sent the following statement to MBW this afternoon:
1. It has come to our attention that two companies, Deep Purple (Overseas) Ltd (“DPO”) and HEC Enterprises Ltd (“HEC”) have recently gone into administration and that ReSolve Partners Limited (“ReSolve”) have been appointed as administrators for both companies. We believe ReSolve are inviting offers from third parties for the business and assets of the two companies.
2. We, (Ian Gillan, Ian Paice and Roger Glover, being continuing members of Deep Purple and Victoria Lord, representing Jon Lord, who was a member of the group until his death) commenced legal proceedings against both DPO and HEC and in particular those proceedings concern the ownership of various Deep Purple sound recording and song copyrights and the income generated thereby.
In short our position is that neither HEC nor DPO can, if it is their intention, dispose of or deal with those copyrights as between themselves and unidentified third parties. Our lawyers are, notwithstanding the two companies going into administration, instructed to progress and enforce our rights in relation to those copyrights (amongst other matters).
This statement is to put you on notice of our claims/ rights/ interests. If further information is required please address your enquiries to our lawyers, Russells (Tel: 02074398692 Ref: SMT) or our royalty managers, The Royalty Consultancy (Tel: 01908 568800 Ref: MC).
HEC Enterprises Ltd was originally founded in the 1960s by businessman Tony Edwards with two business partners, Ron Hire and John Coletta.Music Business Worldwide
