Rick James’ estate settles music licensing suit

Music publishing company accused of making deals without authority

Rene Macura / AP	The estate of late funk singer Rick James has settled a lawsuit that claimed a music publishing company collected money from licensing his songs without permission.

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updated 5:45 p.m. ET Jan. 1, 2008

LOS ANGELES - The estate of Rick James has settled a lawsuit claiming that a music publishing company collected money from licensing his songs without permission.

The estate’s attorney, Jennifer J. McGrath, announced the settlement in court Thursday. A trial was to begin Jan. 7.

Dozens of James’ compositions, though not the late funk singer’s biggest hit, “Super Freak,” were involved in the suit, filed in March in Superior Court.

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It accused California-based Brooklyn Music Publishing Group Inc. of collecting money from European music publishers and making new foreign deals without authority.

Messages left Monday for McGrath and Brooklyn Music attorney Vincent Chieffo were not returned.

The damages sought were not specified, and the terms of the settlement were not disclosed in court documents.

Grammy winner James was 56 when he died in 2004 of heart failure.