Concept rockers Pink Floyd, seen here playing at Live 8 in London in 2005, won a suit Thursday against EMI to preserve the "artistic integrity" of their albums.NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Pink Floyd won a legal battle Thursday against EMI that prevents the band's long-time record label from selling individual songs online.
Sir Andrew Morritt, chancellor of Britain's High Court, ruled that Pink Floyd's contract forbids EMI from breaking up the band's albums without its permission, according to a spokeswoman for the British judicial system. EMI had argued that the stipulation only applied to physical albums, not online sales.
The group's contract reportedly contained a clause to "preserve the artistic integrity" of their albums. The band has traditionally resisted selling individual songs from their "concept albums," which are meant to be listened to from beginning to end.
Pink Floyd, best known for the classics "The Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall," has become one of EMI's most lucrative contracts since it was first signed in 1967.
"We're huge fans of Pink Floyd whose great catalog we have been representing for more than 40 years and continue to represent exclusively and internationally," EMI said in a statement.
According to EMI, the case has been going on for "well over a year" and most of the issues have already been resolved. However, the record company added that there are "further arguments to be heard" and it expects the case to go on "for some time."
A spokeswoman for the law firm representing Pink Floyd said the band does not have a comment at this time. ![]()






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