Winehouse 'settles copyright claim'

Singer Amy Winehouse has settled a claim for copyright infringement over a song on her best-selling album Back to Black, a solicitor said.Songwriter and producer P*Nut, real name John Harrison, claimed he and Winehouse co-wrote the song He Can Only Hold Her in his studio last year.But P*Nut, who has worked with Dido, Faithless and Santana, said he received no songwriter credit on the album, only a "thank you" for his contribution.His spokesperson said he would now receive a share of the copyright from the song and payment of costs.P*Nut's solicitor, Bob Page, of Jayes and Page, said: "This represents a very satisfactory outcome for P*Nut, who considered his contribution to the song to be perfectly obvious."He was therefore extremely disappointed not to receive the credit he deserved on Amy's album and furthermore at the extent of the resistance he encountered in securing his fair share of the copyright."He added: "Whilst Amy and her publishers took the matter to the brink, P*Nut is pleased that common sense has prevailed and he is now looking forward to seeing his contribution properly recognised on future exploitation of this song."A spokesman for Island Records, the record company Winehouse is signed to, said he was not familiar with the case.The 23-year-old star recently surprised doubters by turning up at the Mercury Awards and silencing the audience with a stunning rendition of her song Love Is A Losing Game.She has been staying at hotels with husband Blake Fielder-Civil since leaving rehab.The troubled star, whose hit songs include Rehab, was said to have come close to death when she was rushed to hospital last month after reportedly taking cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine and marijuana.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | September 8, 2007

Tags:. .future. .studio. .leaving. .hold. .bob