The Liberal Party is to pay the Danish pop group Laid Back DKK 100,000 in damages as a result of the unauthorised use of the 1980s megahit Sunshine Reggae in an election video during the 2010 local government elections in Aalborg.

After two weeks of deliberations, the party has decided against appealing the court’s decision in a case raised by the authors of the song, who did not want it used to strengthen a political message.

Disclosures during the court case made it clear that the party was aware that Laid Back did not want their song used in the election video.

“The case is quite clear. Two composers said no thank you to having their music used in a political context. The fact that the Liberal Party chose to ignore such a clear message is clearly against the law,” says Tjill Drejer of DJBFA, Denmark’s largest interest group for rhythmic music composers.

Apart from DKK 100,000 in damages, the Liberal Party is also to pay costs.

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