Yoko Ono Uses Legal Leverage to Quash John Lennon Movie

Posted by Eriq Gardner

Yoko Ono has nixed a planned movie about John Lennon's 1969 return to his Scottish hometown. According to a story in the Scotsman, Ono's lawyers "denied the movie makers the use of Lennon's songs, which were central to the project."

Ono doesn't hold publishing rights over Beatle tunes. Those rest in the hands of Sony/ATV. But Sony/ATV chief executive Martin Bandier says his company has a "moral obligation" to consult the Beatles and their heirs.

Ono's guardianship over Lennon's image extends beyond her implicit ability to license song rights. Entertainment lawyer Will Evans believes there would be legal ground to challenge the filmmakers in the U.K. on defamation and privacy grounds or to bring an action in the U.S. over unauthorized exploitation of Lennon's name.