HANK WILLIAMS - HANK WILLIAMS' SON WINS COPYRIGHT BATTLE

The Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled the heirs of the late country legend HANK WILLIAMS own the rights to a collection of rare and live vintage recordings the country/folk legend made for radio broadcasts.

The decision ends a lengthy court battle between Williams' son HANK WILLIAMS JR and Polygram Records bosses, who claimed they had the rights to the recordings.

The record label executives cited Williams' contract with MGM Records in their ownership claim for the 40-plus recordings, which were handed to them by the late country legend's former bassist HILLOUS BUTRUM.

But authorities in Tennessee agreed with a court decision made in 2003 and granted Williams' son and his wife JETT full copyright ownership of the recordings.

No details have been released about the couple's plans for the recordings.