This will go on to the Year 3000….

So that’s it then. After weeks and weeks of wondering the court case is finally over. Ki McPhail and Owen Doyle have lost their battle for £10 million in royalties. Songs such as ‘Year 3000’ and ‘What I Go To School For’ were brought up in court and discussed in great detail as Ki and Owen tried to claim their earnings from the songs they said they had written. Back in March, we had sent in two Fleckers to report on the court case as and when it happened, and we learnt that not only had Charlie Simpson been in court, but that Richard Rashman had been in to defend as well. Matt had given evidence that day, and had looked rather nervous, but it seems that even though he shaking like a leaf, the evidence he gave was enough to convince the judge that the other two should lose.

Mr Justice Morgan dismissed Ki and Owen’s claims in court and criticised the evidence they gave. He said today that, “if Ki did believe the evidence he gave to the court, it can only be because he has indulged in very extensive self-serving reconstruction in the period between the relevant events and the time of the trial and has now convinced himself that his reconstructed version of events really happened.”
He then went on to say that Owen, “was not a reliable witness either. He manifested a high degree of confusion and a failure to grasp the detail in relation to many of the significant events”.

Matt and James have released a statement today about the court case saying, “This was an opportunistic attempt by Doyle and McPhail to cash in on our success. Their claims were a complete fabrication and we are delighted that the judge has seen through this and totally dismissed them. Our position has been completely vindicated and our achievements with Busted remain untarnished.”

Ki and Owen‘s statement was also released saying, “Owen, Ki & their families are very disappointed & frustrated at the judgement made here today. They came to court for justice and for the deserved recognition as co writers of Busted’s songs. The Judge has avoided making a decision on that point. So the case remains unresolved after 7 years. An appeal will be launched immediately.”

It’s a shame that Ki and Owen have lost, because now they have to cough up £1.7 million in court fees. However, they are not ones to back down, and so are going ahead with the appeal. So as much as we like to think this court case is over, it’s not. It’s not over til the fat lady sings… Or until Ki and Owen have won.