Legendary rapper/producer Dr. Dre has won a legal ruling entitling him to 100 per cent of the profits of digital sales of his iconic album, 'The Chronic'.
- April 20, 2011
AceShowbiz - Dr. Dre, real name Andre Young, took label executives to court last year, alleging they were improperly selling his 1992 debut online and using his hits in compilations without his authorisation.
U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder ruled on Tuesday that Death Row Records bosses do not have the rights to sell the album online and that Dr. Dre has received far less cash than he is due from web sales.
The ruling will now see the hip-hop star receive 100% of the proceeds, according to Dr. Dre's attorney Howard King.
In a statement to the Associated Press, King explains, "For years, Death Row Records forgot about Dre when they continued to distribute his music digitally and combined his hits with weaker Death Row tracks in an attempt to elevate the stature of their other artists."
"We are gratified that the federal court has unambiguously declared that Death Row has no right to engage in such tactics, and must hold all proceeds from these illicit distributions in trust for our client."
It's not the first time Dr. Dre has battled the label he left in 1996 - last year, he sued Death Row Records over claims a modified version of his album, retitled The Chronic Re-Lit, was in violation of trademark and publicity law. The case was thrown out of court.
