Wu-Tang Clan member, Ghostface Killah, filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) on Wednesday (August 10) for allegedly breaching ...
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the rapper (real name: Dennis Coles) claims the record label is taking a 50% copyright interest in Wu-Tang Clan songs, but is only supposed to own just a 25% stake.
So, he wants back royalties being held by the music giant.
This isn't the first time Ghostface has sued in an attempt to recover unpaid royalties. In 2005, he sued Wu Tang Productions (WTP) and Wu head, the RZA, claiming he received smaller-than-expected royalty payments.
Four years later, he earned a court victory, when a New York judge ruled in his favor, saying WTP weren't entitled to a 25% withholding and RZA wasn't entitled to a 50% withholding for his production contribition.
While Ghost is suing, he's also on the defense in a separate lawsuit. He and Sony Music are being sued for copyright infringement by Jack Urbont, a veteran Hollywood composer whose work included the "Iron Man Theme" created originally for the 1960s television show, "The Marvel Super Heroes."
Urbont contends that both the Ghost's sampling of his theme, as well as his secondary moniker of Tony Starks, is playing off the name "Tony Stark," Iron Man's real name and true identity.
Ghost sampled the theme song, specifically on his 2000 solo album, Supreme Clientele.
Sony and the rapper argue that Urbont's allegations are barred by statutes of limitations.
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