A judge has ruled against Bob Marley’s family, who had sued Universal Music Group for the rights over five of the singer’s most enduring albums. Bob’s widow Rita and nine of his children filed the suit after UMG licensed Marley’s music for ringtones without first consulting the family, Reuters reports. In addition to the copyrights, on albums released by Island Records between 1972 and 1978 (Catch a Fire, Burnin’, Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibrations and Exodus), the Marleys had been seeking millions of dollars for damages and lost royalties. Marley recorded the LPs as part of a “works made for hire” contract with Island, an offshoot of UMG. The Marley family accused Universal of “exploiting” Bob Marley’s music and image.
