BOB MARLEY'S FAMILY SUCCUMBS TO US COPYRIGHT LAW IN BITTER COURT CASE.

The family of Reggae Music Icon, Robert Nesta Marley, have lost out in a bid to obtain the copyrights to some of his revered recordings. Rita Marley and her children had sued Universal Music Group ( UMG ) seeking millions of dollars for the company's alleged attempts to 'exploit' his recordings. They also accused UMG of not paying royalties to the Family's Fifty-Six Hope Road Music Company. However, in a comprehensive ruling in New York last Friday, Judge Denise Cote ruled that Bob Marley's recordings were 'works made for hire' as stated under US Copyright law. According to Cote- 'Each of the agreements provided that the sound recordings were the absolute property of Island Records. Whether Marley would have recorded his music even if he had not entered the recording agreements with Island is beside the point.' Island Records is a subsidiary of the Universal Music Group ( UMG ).

The albums at the centre of the dispute include 'Catch a Fire'(1973), 'Burnin' (1973), 'Natty Dread' (1974), 'Rastaman Vibration' (1976) and 'Exodus' (1977). The albums listed were recorded by Bob Marley and his band, The Wailers, and contain some of the Reggae Legend's greatest songs like 'I shot the sherrif', 'One love' and 'No Woman, No Cry'. Judge Cotes ruling has put an end to the bitter legal fight between UMG and the Marley Family. In another development, Rita Marley who lives in Ghana will be attending a memorial concert in honour of her husband. The concert which has been tagged 'A Bob Marley Celebration' will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on the 23rd of this month. RV has gathered that some of Bob Marley's children including Damian, Julian, Stephen and Cedella Marley will be performing at the event ahich will be held at the Benedum Centre for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh. The money that is raised from the concert will be donated to the family's One Love Foundation. Bob Marley died of Cancer in 1981 at age 36. He has sold between 100-250 million albums all over the world.

Sources: cdinsight.com, modernghana.com, RV.
Where To Find Bob Marley Online: www.bobmarley.com