The hearing for publisher Cayman Music’s attempt to retrieve its rights over 13 of Bob Marley songs started in London’s High Court.
The argument of the hearing mainly revolves on an agreement that Cayman Music and Blue Mountain Music signed in 1992, which is 11 years after the legendary Jamaican reggae icon died.
The main argument Cayman Music pushes is that they were not included during the sale of the rights to Blue Mountain Music back in 1992 because Bob Marley penned them using other people’s names. However, Blue Mountain claims that the songs completely covered in the transfer.
According to Cayman Music’s lawyer Hugo Cuddigan, the songs that were written in 1973 to 1976 were not part of the transfer deal because they were fraudulently attributed to other persons. According to Cayman, Marley attributed the songs to other people so that it can avoid the provisions that were included in the publishing agreements between him and the music company.
On the other hand, Blue Mountain lawyer Ian Mill said the lawsuit must be dismissed because the main intention of the deal made in 1992 was plainly to transfer all the rights to the songs.
The case involves a stake that could reach up to millions of dollars. By the end of this week, a verdict is expected to be given.
One of the 13 songs is the famous hit “No Woman, No Cry.” Other titles that are in dispute includes, Crazy Baldhead, So Jah She, Who The Cap Fit, War, Want More, Them Belly Full, Talking Blues, Rebel Music (Road Block), Rat Race, Positive Vibrations, Natty Dread, Johnny Was, and Crazy Baldhead.
Bob Marley, born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945, started out his music career with a band called The Wailers, he later on gained international fame and sold over 75 million albums and singles worldwide. He died of cancer in May 11, 1981.
