Lead Vocalist of German Band Rammstein in Dispute with Russian Museum over Selling NFTs Unauthorized

One of the most popular Russian museums, Hermitage, has threatened the lead vocalist of a famed German band called “Rammstein” of initiation of legal proceedings as the vocalist sold NFT containing objects and artifacts belonging to the Museum without its permission for an amount of 100 K Euros. The museum claims that the artist did not seek prior permission from the museum and proceeded to sell the NFTs.

Rammstein is a hard metal rock band hailing from Germany whose fame is spreading all over the world. It is regarded as one of the first globally acclaimed bands of Germany which made its way into the international arena. The band was established in the year 1994 and since then it has been producing songs to date.

The band is usually run by its lead vocalist, Till Lindemann, who also writes the songs the band cover.

Lindemann is these days selling Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in the international market. There have been different value tags affixed against each NFT. However, there is one specific NFT that has the highest valued price tag of Euros 100 K. This particular NFT contains images of Lindemann performing in the Russian Museum, Hermitage.

Normally the museum requires prior permission before anyone can shoot a video or take photos of the museum and its belongings. However, special permission was granted to Lindemann to shoot a video in which the artist was performing the song “Beloved Town”. The song was a patriotic song and performed by a German artist on a special occasion of the Year of Germany in 2020.

However, the Russian museum has been offended because Lindemann was selling an NFT comprising images of the museum and its belongings. The museum claimed that without obtaining permission, Lindemann cannot sell such NFTs otherwise it would be in violation of proprietary rights. The museum told Twitter that Lindemann had never contacted them for seeking any permission.

It has been further apprised by the museum that Lindemann was also duly notified through a letter. However, he did not respond, which then forced the museum to send a notice and stop Lindemann to proceed any further. He was told through the notice that under the policy of the museum, no one is allowed to sell images and videos of the museum. In fact, if the images or video comprises photos or clips of the museum’s belongings even that cannot be done without permission. Any such content is not for commercial use and can only be done with the written agreement and approval of the museum’s management.

So far the German artist has neither responded to the letter nor to the notice. In fact, the disputed NFT has been put up for sale through public auction. However, the museum has ensured that it will take all legal steps in case Lindemann violates the proprietary rights of the museum.