Gary Granada calls foul after GMA7 maliciously used his original song Structure to come up with new melodies for their Kapuso Foundation Project. The news is all over the blogosphere and Granada is asking for support for his fight against copyright infringement. Well being electrecuted in the past by a series of blog campaign, I was skeptic until I finally have proof that will somehow show that Granada’s claim is valid. First, the technicalities he mentioned are all true (Read Reyna Elena’s blog for more details and read the discussion on the comments area) and second, I came up with my own investigation on the matter. The result was compelling and I tell you, the similarities of the two songs mentioned are undeniably profound and evident. Listen first to the claim of Gary Granada via mp3 after the jump

According to Gary Granada, the song he submitted to GMA 7 was rejected. Then to his surprise, the same structure of his song was used by GMA7 differing only in the melody. But the pattern, tempo and beat is very similar.

To prove Gary’s Claim, I downloaded the above MP3 and extracted the original song of Granada and his version of the alleged copied second song. I then played them simultaneously and recorded them. The result was astounding. Listen to the MP3 below which I recorded (The voice of the child is singing Gary Granada’s original song. While the song Gary is singing is that of the alleged plagiarized song)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

GMA7 said that Gary Granada’s claim has no basis. They are obviously playing innocent to what seems to be a deliberate act of copyright infringement on their part. Santong Kabayo!

You judge…

Update Feb. 16, 2009 From Journal.Ph

GMA Network cries foul over Granada issue
IN view of the unfair tirades and biased criticisms that GMA Network has received over the controversial jingle used in the “Tripid Handog Edukasyon” campaign of the network’s marketing arm, GMA Marketing and Productions, Inc. (GMPI), GMA Network reiterates its position that GMPI merely commissioned the making of the jingle.

Composer Gary Granada, in an audio file sent out earlier, claimed that GMA Network allegedly used his lyrics and study to come up with the approved jingle of the campaign.

This is a lie. GMPI first hired Granada to write the melody of the campaign jingle and provided him with the original lyrics.

However, GMPI and its client for the campaign rejected Granada ’s study. Granada refused to come up with another version. Left with no choice, GMPI commissioned another songwriter, Charo Unite, to compose another melody according to client specifications. The “Tripid Handog Edukasyon” campaign was launched in December 2008.

Unite was given access to Granada ’s study after, not before, she submitted her own study of the jingle.

It was not GMA Network which created the music of the jingle, it was Unite. If Granada is complaining of infringement or exploitation of his work, then he should run after the composer of the jingle. Granada says that the other composer is not the issue. How can she not be the issue when it is infringement he is complaining about? Granada must know that GMA cannot be the infringer, simply because GMA did not create the work.

It is also important to note that the other composer heard Granada ’s study only after she had submitted her own study of the jingle and, therefore, she could not have used Granada’s study.

Malice is already evident on Granada ’s repeated baseless attacks versus GMA Network. The network reserves the right to file the necessary case against Granada if these malicious attacks persist.

GMA Network had hoped that the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP) would conduct a formal inquiry to the accusations of Granada because the second composer, Unite, is also a FILSCAP member and after such formal investigation, impose the proper penalty under its internal rules on its erring member, if there is any.