UPDATE [March 29, 2024]: Linkin Park and former bassist Kyle Christner have settled their royalty lawsuit. A statement on the matter reads:

 

Linkin Park and bassist Kyle Christner have settled out of court a copyright lawsuit filed by Mr. Christner in a California federal court.

 

“We are pleased to announce that we have reached an amicable resolution with bassist Kyle Christner,” a Linkin Park spokesperson said. “Kyle is a very talented musician who made valuable contributions to Linkin Park at a pivotal time in 1999. He has performed with the band in several shows and numerous recording showcases. Kyle helped write and perform many songs from this period, including several on the Hybrid Theory EP.

 

Linkin Park’s attempt to sue former bassist Kyle Christner for royalties has been rejected.

 

According to Billboard, the band’s lawyer said Christner’s royalty requests had been denied for “more than two decades.”

Lawyers for the class filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit Tuesday, March 5, calling Christner’s lawsuit “riddled with flaws.” A key factor in their motion was that the statute of limitations on Christner’s claim had “long passed.”

Tuesday’s motion also claims the lawsuit does not identify the songs in which Christener is involved. “Defendants cannot reasonably be expected to know how to respond [to the lawsuit] without knowing what copyright is at issue,” the class’s lawyers said.

Christner’s tenure at Linkin Park was brief, with the bassist joining the group in 1999. The musician said in his first profile (as reported by Rolling Stone) that he had performed with the group during their showcase for Warner Records, Inc., which helped them. land a recording contract. Additionally, he claims to have collaborated with the group on some of their previous songs.

Rolling Stone reported that Christner was contacted by one of Linkin Park’s former managers, who informed the bassist that his recorded work was featured on portions of the 20th-anniversary box set of the band’s debut album, Hybrid Theory.

It is alleged that this manager told Christner that he was owed royalties and that when the bassist contacted Machine Shop Entertainment (Linkin Park’s management company), they “went dark” after admitting to receiving the communication.

LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 08: (L-R) Members of the band Linkin Park Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, Joe Hahn, and Brad Delson arrive for the screening of Sony Pictures Classics’ “The Raid” at The Silent Movie Theater on March 8, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Which Linkin Park recording should Kyle Christner feature?

The anonymous former manager reportedly told Christner that, regarding the contents of the Hybrid Theory anniversary box set, he was owed money for three demo recordings and the six-song Hybrid Theory EP.

Christner credits his recorded work for more than 20 songs, including “She Couldn’t,” “Chair,” “Blue” and “Step Up.”

Rolling Stone cites legal documents stating: “In fact, Christner appears to have played on at least tracks two, three, four, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11 and 12 of Forgotten Demos, music one, two”. , Sept, 13, 14, 16, 17 of LPU Rarity and the following seven B-Side Rarity, as well as the EP Hybrid Theory .”

What does Linkin Park’s lawyer claim?

“The plaintiff claims that the defendants… owe him money because he was a member of the group for no more than eight months, 25 years ago, and was not paid for his ‘ contributions,’” the band’s lead attorney said, writes a prominent music litigator. Edwin. F. McPherson. “He made three claims, each of which failed.”

Who is named in the lawsuit?

Each of the surviving members of Linkin Park who were in the group at the time – Mike Shinoda, Rоb Bourdon, Brad Delson, and Joseph Hahn – are named in Christner’s lawsuit.

The bassist was also named Machine Shop Entertainment and Warner Records.