RICK JAMES - RICK JAMES' ESTATE SETTLED

RICK JAMES' ESTATE SETTLED

Funk legend RICK JAMES' estate has settled a lawsuit against a music publishing company which they claim collected money from licensing his songs without permission. The estate's attorney, Jennifer J. MCGrath, announced the settlement in court last week (27Dec07) ahead of a trial that was due to begin on 7 January (08). Dozens of James' compositions - although not including his hit Super Freak - were involved in the suit which was filed in March last year (07) at Los Angeles' Superior Court. It accused California-based Brooklyn Music Publishing Group Inc. of collecting money from European music publishers and making new foreign deals without the estate's authority. The damages sought were not specified and the terms of the settlement were not disclosed in court documents. James died of heart failure in 2004 aged 56.