The family of Bob Marley  has lost a lawsuit over the copyright to some of his most famous songs last Friday. According to Judge Cote of the district court of Manhattan, the Universal Music Group (UMG) is owner of the copyrights to songs like 'Get Up, Stand Up', 'I Shot the Sheriff', 'No Woman, No Cry' and 'One Love'.

A 1995 agreement would assign the Marley families company Fifty-Six Hope Road Music the copyrights to five of Marley & The Wailer's most popular albums. According to the Marley family UMG ignores the 1995 agreement and deliberately refuses to pay them royalties.

Moreover, UMG would have failed to consult them on major licensing deals, including the use of Marley's music as ringtones. Finally, the family also believes that UMG wouldn't have the rights to digital downloads of Marley's music.

Judge Cote however disagreed with the Marley family on all accounts. She held that Marley's recordings are "works made for hire" under the U.S. copyright. "Each of the agreements provided that the sound recordings were the 'absolute property' of Island", Cote wrote. The Jamaican label Island Records is part of UMG.

Cote ruled that both parties should enter into court-supervised settlement talks on October 29. 

Source: Billboard.biz