JAY-Z has scored a small victory in the ongoing dispute between Roc-A-Fella Records and Dame Dash, whose one-third stake in the company is up for sale.
According to Billboard , Judge Robert W. Lehrburger declined to rule on the copyright law issue of whether the rights to “Reasonable Doubt” would be returned to Jov in 2031.
The judge also rejected the city’s attempt to investigate Roc-A-Fella’s financial assets, saying such an investigation was also beyond the scope of the courts.
The ruling means questions about the long-term future of the rights to JAY-Z’s debut album will remain unanswered until Dash’s stake in Roc-A-Fella goes up for public auction as early as next month.
JAY-Z claims the album’s copyright, which is Roc-A-Fella Inc.’s only identifiable asset (the label’s remaining albums are held in escrow by Roc-A-Fella LLC), will expire in 2031, or 35 years. back.
Under laws established in the 1970s, most authors have the right to reclaim the copyright of their creations after 35 years.
If Jay were eligible to reclaim the rights, it would severely limit the earning potential of any buyer of Dash’s shares in the company and album.
New York City claimed that the album was not eligible for copyright termination, and Jay attempted to lower the auction price.
The rapper’s attorney, Alex Spiro, responded by calling the accusations “without merit.”
The Dame Dash stock auction is currently scheduled for October 21, with bidding starting at $3 million.
Dash has no control over the stock or the auction, as the sale is underway to help pay off his massive debt.
The sale was originally intended to pay off a nearly $1 million debt he owed to filmmaker Josh Weber, who successfully sued him for copyright infringement and defamation over the film “Dear Frank.”
Dash also owes New York State $8.7 million in back taxes and New York City $193,000 in child support.
