A bit of history: In 2019, Volyn scammers headed by S. Lapkovskyi decided to make a fortune from Ukrainian musicians and asked ANTYTILA in particular for recompense due to their supposed usage of his patent №74516 “The Way of Adjusting the Parameters of a Music Piece” when creating their songs. ANTYTILA received subpoenas for using music notes and keys in their songs.
The amount of the claim was worth ₴1 018 692,64.
The situation’s ridiculousness consists in the fact that scammers headed by Lapkovskyi obtained a patent for what had existed in the world for many centuries having used fallibility of the law. It was about forbidding the musicians to use exact music keys and rates in their songs. But their dish was clapped at the wrong men’s door! ANTYTILA initiated a criminal case against the scammer. Soon, ANTYTILA sued a claim for defending the author’s rights and initiated a trial in cancelling Lapkovskyi’s absurd patent. What a big surprise it was for the musicians when in summer 2022 as the soldiers of the AFU they found out that Lapkovskyi had renewed the trial and summoned them to the court.
Finally, in May 2024, a Lutsk patent troll’s claim against the ANTYTILA band was dismissed by a court decision. Also, his patent №74516 was declared invalid.
ANTYTILA have gained an important victory for all Ukrainian musicians. There was a hope that had been a final stop in this story. But, surprisingly, Lapkovskyi filed an appeal. Today, in an open trial of Kyiv Court of Appeal, the judges O. Zhelepa, O. Nemyrovska, and O. Mazuryk have put an end to this epopee having lasted for 6 years.
The verdict is the following: instead of one million to be given from the musicians’ pockets for using tempos and harmonies in their songs, there will be ₴50,000 from the scammer Lapkovskyi’s pocket given for the benefit of the band. Moreover, the court has cancelled his absurd patent, rejected all his recompenses towards the ANTYTILA band, and locked the chance to blackmail Ukrainian musicians forever.
Justice is restored.
We’re grateful to everyone being by our side following the situation and supporting us.