Spain Copyright Executive Claims $50k Brothel Bill Was For Work-Related Activities

from the sexpensive dept

Thu, Nov 13th 2014 7:52am — Timothy Geigner

When you write about as many different people, groups and organizations as we do here at Techdirt, you occasionally forget to check in on some places and people occasionally. Take SGAE, for instance. It's the Spanish music collection group that has made a name for itself chiefly stealing money from artists, epitomizing corruption, and generally behaving like pain-in-the-butt asshats whenever given the opportunity. We haven't checked on SGAE in about three years or so, so I assume the group has completely turned itself around and are now a shining example of above-board behavior?

Pedro Farré, the former head of corporate relations at the Spanish Society of Authors and Publishers (SGAE) was handed a 30-month sentence after the National Court found him guilty of embezzlement and faking work-related documents. The judge said Farré had withdrawn cash during his jaunts to brothels, and then created "completely false" receipts, supposedly for services such as "catering" for SGAE clients which he later handed in to his employer's accounting office to claim the money back. These were submitted alongside genuine receipts to avoid arousing suspicion, the court heard.

Look, let's give some credit where credit is due: it takes a supreme set of testicles to turn in $50k worth of receipts for money spent at whorehouses and try to write them off for reimbursement. On the other hand, I don't think it disqualifies Pedro from the corruption championships, either. And let's keep in mind that money fraudulently extracted as SGAE overhead for banging hookers is taking more money out of the hands of artists in a very real way. Why do these collection groups that represent artists always seem to have so much disdain for them at the same time?

Anyway, once caught, Pedro copped to what he'd done, came clean, and faced the music like a man. Nah, just kidding, he totally tried to make up another ridiculous, but hilarious, excuse.

[The judge] also slammed the copyright expert's claims he had visited the clubs to see if there were any rights issues in terms of the music being played there. During the trial, the former SGAE executive even argued he had been framed by a detective and journalist named Cervero who was unable to appear as a witness during the trial because of serious heart problems.

The presiding judge, however, dismissed those claims as well.

But, your honor, I was only visiting the brothel to make sure none of them were playing unlicensed music to their whores. Not the most convincing argument, sir. Keep it classy SGAE.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: brothels, copyright, expenses, pedro farre, royalties, spain
Companies: sgae

24 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Rabbit80 (profile), 13 Nov 2014 @ 7:44am

it takes a supreme set of testicles to turn in $50k worth of receipts for money spent at whorehouses

In more ways than one..
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:07am

all courts need to realise and act on the realisation that every time there is a 'copyright related' court case, those who are giving evidence on the side of the alleged copyright owners, are fucking liars, particularly in countries where the infringement punishments have rocketed. this is simply to try to stop the owners from having to pay out to keep going to court, and in the hope that those accused and ultimately convicted will receive sentences that put others off from infringing. everything else is totally ignored and as those passing sentence are sometimes members of the entertainment industries, they will always rule in favor of the industries!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
That Anonymous Coward (profile), 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:08am

Well that is around how much it costs to get a politician to pass the laws you desire.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Scote, 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:20am

"But, your honor, I was only visiting the brothel to make sure none of them were playing unlicensed music to their whores. Not the most convincing argument, sir. "

I dunno, given that collection societies really do send people around sneaking a listen to hair salons and truck drivers the claim isn't as outlandish as it ought to be.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Juan, 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:33am

Because ... SEX!
"But, your honor, I was only visiting the brothel to make sure none of them were playing unlicensed music to their whores."

The only reason the judge rejected this argument was because it was sexually related. Otherwise it would have probably been fully accepted, if the case was even investigated at all.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Pixelation, 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:34am

Why?
Well, someone has to keep up with the Secret Service...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:36am

the Lana Del Rey solution
He should have saved his money. Let's not forget that this is an industry where aspiring female stars are known to do whatever it takes to get a leg up on the competition, and high-horned men in positions of influence (or even just pretending to be) have long taken advantage of their situation.

Just ask Lana Del Rey how the system works.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/lana-del-rey-i-have-slept-with-a-lot-of-guys-in-the-i ndustry-9622672.html
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Leit, 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:43am

It's obviously a work-related expense... screwing that many people at once takes a lot of practise.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Michael, 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:44am

And let's keep in mind that money fraudulently extracted as SGAE overhead for banging hookers is taking more money out of the hands of artists in a very real way.

It is entirely possible that many of the whores were musicians that had turned to prostitution because they could not make a living because of piracy.

He was HELPING artists.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:53am

Re: the Lana Del Rey solution
That solution is difficult to sell when you collect the money that should be going to the artists, but somehow rarely does.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Josh (profile), 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:55am

it takes a supreme set of testicles to turn in $50k worth of receipts for money spent at whorehouses

Can I get $50K so I can try?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Nov 2014 @ 8:57am

Well of course he needed to not only visit the brothel, but pay for all it's 'services'! You never know what kind of music they're playing in back rooms when they 'service' you.

And we all know people don't go to the brothels for the 'services' they offer. No, they go for the music that's played while they get 'serviced'!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Thue (profile), 13 Nov 2014 @ 9:08am

Grammar
> Spain Copyright Executive Claims $50k Brothel Bill Was For Work-Related Activities

When using "Spain" as an adjective, to give the meaning "A Copyright Executive from Spain" or "in Spain", then the inflection "Spanish" should be used.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
BentFranklin (profile), 13 Nov 2014 @ 9:25am

Re:
Perhaps he thought he was going to meet with Pussy Riot.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Scote, 13 Nov 2014 @ 9:44am

I should point out that there was only one whore in those brothels, the rest were sex workers.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PRMan, 13 Nov 2014 @ 9:52am

Re:
If he spent $50 instead of $50,000, I might believe him.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Capt ICE Enforcer, 13 Nov 2014 @ 11:33am

No harm
listen the money would be going to the prostitutes anyways no matter who they bang so nobody was hurt the single mothers will become doctors and the children will be fed. Looks like a win-win situation for all, especially because musicians get laid for free...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Nov 2014 @ 1:59pm

Re: Re:
What brothel only charges $50.00?

Come to think of it: What brothel only charges $500.00?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zem, 13 Nov 2014 @ 3:46pm

Of course it was work related. More importantly it was on the job training. How else do you prefect being able to screw someone in the courts over copyright infringement.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Nov 2014 @ 4:55pm

They're not even bothering to be subtle about it anymore.

For one, we're talking about people who will readily dedicate resources and time to fleecing a guy who plays music privately to his horses.

For two, we're talking about people who will readily fuck over other people.

For three, we're talking about people who will jack up the numbers to make it seem like they really need the ridiculous sums of money that they're demanding from other people.

Bearing in mind the fact that copyright assholes rarely suffer any repercussions, this case feels more like the exception than the norm. They've grown so brash they could probably get away with murder for copyright if they could find the right judge to oversee their case.

And the sad thing is that average_joe and LAB will still be fervently defending these practices no matter how toxic they are.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Arioch (profile), 13 Nov 2014 @ 9:33pm

(Pedro Farré)
But your Honour, this was a genuine business expense. I was there to both to check that unlicensed music was not being played and to entertain clients.

(Judge)
Not once do I remember you inviting me, so here's something to make you remember who I am.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
David, 13 Nov 2014 @ 10:49pm

Licensing payout
Those were just licensing fees for composing and performing the song "Oh my, oh yes, oh God".
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ninja (profile), 14 Nov 2014 @ 1:38am

Oh. So that's what they mean when they are talking about performance licenses? /derp
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 14 Nov 2014 @ 2:52am

LOL
[ link to this | view in thread ]