The late singer’s wife and sons have lost their case against Universal Music Group (UMG) who they claim withheld royalties from their own company-Fifty-Six Hope Road Music Ltd and sought damages in the millions after UMG allegedly tried to “exploit” his recordings. They also stated that they weren’t consulted on licensing decisions over using Marley’s songs as ringtones, a move many of us sorely regret.
Judge Denise Cole was quoted as saying Marley’s recordings were “works made for hire” as per US copyright law.
UMG has been ruled as the owner of the copyright to many of Marley’s songs recorded between 1973 and 1977 under Island Records ( a subsidiary of UMG) including hits such as “Get Up, Stand Up,” “No Woman, No Cry,” “One Love,” and “I Shot The Sheriff.”
