Jay-z Wins Latest Round In Battle Over Restaurant Name

The rapper filed suit against celebrity chef Terry Miller five years ago (06) over the name of his Rockafella restaurant in Newcastle, claiming the title would lead to confusion with his Roc-A-Fella Records music empire.

A judge ruled in Miller's favour and last year (10), he was granted the U.K. trademark for the restaurant and food-branding name Rockafella, while Jay-Z was ordered to pay the cook's legal costs.

But the 99 Problems hitmaker appealed the decision and was handed victory during a hearing in London on Monday (21Feb11).

Professor Ruth Annand overturned the original judgement, claiming the previous case manager was wrong to say the two business names would not clash because Jay-Z's entertainment ventures were not entirely separate from the catering trade.

Miller, who launched the business after winning U.K. cooking reality show Hell's Kitchen in 2005, closed the eatery in 2010, but runs a catering company under the same name. He is reportedly considering appealing the latest ruling.