TVR, the Romania national broadcaster, seem to be faced with a dilemma regarding the song that won the country's National final which took place last Saturday as an investigation by Antenna TV host Dan Capatu revealed that Playing with fire is registered in Norway as co- written by a Norwegian composer, something that is against the TVR regulation.
Last night, duringthe Capatoslive show where Luminita Anghel and Tony Tomas were invited, the host of the show presented a document showing that the track Playing with firehas been registered with the Norwegian IFPI (Tono)as co written and co penned by Ovi Cernauteanu (Ovi) and Norwegian composer Simen Eriksrud. According to the new TVR regulationregarding the Eurovision 2010 preselection, all authors of the submitted songs for the Romanian national final must have Romanian citizenship. Dan Capatos stated that, if the information is confirmed, he will officialy ask TVR to disqualify Playing with fire and organise a new National final.
Earlier today, Esctoday.com received from TVR adocumentsigned by Mr. Simen Eriksrud which states: "I personally confirm that Ovi (Ovidiu Cernauteanu) is the only composer of the song Playing with fire. We agreed thatI would recieve 50% of the publishing rights of the song as a payment for my work as producer".
TVRwill now have to decide whether they will accept Mr Eriksrud's statement which contradicts the fact that in the official Norwegian copyright association hewas registered as co author and lyricist of the winning song. Also, given the fact that the author of the winning song, Ovi in this case, transferred the rightsof the song to the local broadcaster for the purposes of the Eurovision Song Contest it remains to be decided whether co ownership with Mr Eriksrud could create legal issues.
You can watch last night's show here (in Romanian)
