*A federal judge in Detroit dismissed a lawsuit claiming that late keyboardist Bernie Worrell co-owned 264 Parliament-Funkadelic tracks, including hits like “Flash Light” and “One Nation Under a Groove.”
As Black Enterprise reports, Judge F. Kay Behm ruled the case, filed by Worrell’s estate in 2022, fell outside the three-year statute of limitations for copyright claims. “Unfortunately for plaintiff, Worrell was not reasonably diligent in protecting his alleged co-authorship or ownership rights for decades,” Behm wrote, noting Worrell’s claims arose in the late 1980s.
Clinton’s attorney, Jim Allen, celebrated the ruling, stating, “The Lord said, let there be funk — and no pretenders can shut it down or take it away.”
Worrell, a key member of Parliament-Funkadelic from 1969 to 1981, passed away in 2016. His estate, managed by Judie Worrell, sought royalties, arguing Worrell co-created the band’s 1970s catalog. “George Clinton is a musical genius, and it is unfortunate that he has had to endure these erroneous allegations for the past several years,” Allen told Billboard, expressing relief at the court’s decision. The ruling reinforces Clinton’s status as the creative force behind P-Funk.
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In a separate legal battle, Clinton is suing former associate Armen Boladian and Bridgeport Music for $100 million, alleging they fraudulently acquired his music catalog’s copyrights. “I’m fighting for my life’s work and to ensure future generations of artists are treated fairly,” Clinton said previously at a press conference outside the Apollo Theater.
The lawsuit accuses Boladian of fraud, copyright infringement, and manipulating registrations to dilute Clinton’s ownership. Attorney Ben Crump emphasized, “This lawsuit is about holding accountable those who have built their wealth by exploiting the creativity of Black artists.”
Boladian’s attorney, Richard Busch, dismissed Clinton’s claims, stating, “This is just the latest in a series of lawsuits that Mr. Clinton has filed against Bridgeport and Armen Boladian over the last 30 years raising the same exact issues.”
The ongoing dispute highlights Clinton’s fight to reclaim his legacy. Crump added, “The fraudulent actions detailed in this lawsuit are as egregious as they are disheartening, and it is past time for these wrongs to be righted.”
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: George Clinton Demands $100 Million in Damages over Alleged Music Copyright Fraud Case
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