Intellectual property law plays a hand in lawsuit against Ray Charles’ children

Intellectual property law is a significant factor in many lawsuits for Phoenix business attorneys. Disputes between ownership of products, ideas or any other creations cause an influx of intellectual property lawsuits.

In a recent instance, the children of Ray Charles sent copyright termination notifications to various music publishers, claiming that they have ownership of 51 songs from Charles' singing career. CNN reports that the Ray Charles Foundation – devoted to providing research and education programs for the deaf – filed a lawsuit against seven of the singer's children, alleging that they broke an agreement not to claim any rights to his property that they had made with their father.

The lawsuit specifically alleges that the children agreed to waive their rights to their father's estate after Charles created a $500,000 trust for every one of his 12 children. The foundation claims ownership over the songs that the children attempted to obtain. The lawsuit also alleges that this fight over intellectual ownership has devalued the copyright assets of the songs.

The foundation is dependent upon the royalties from these songs as this is the organization's main method of keeping its charitable programs functioning.

"The self-serving attempts on the part of the defendants to deprive the foundation of its said intellectual property and contract rights not only is contrary to the express wishes of their father and in breach of the agreement they signed and promises that they made, but is contrary to the best interests of those innocent parties who would be benefited by the grants made by the foundation," the suit claims.

In Phoenix, businesses that are wrapped up in trials surrounding intellectual property ownership would be wise to contract the help of an attorney for small business. A knowledgeable attorney with a wide array of experience in proper business practices is the right person to hire in disputes over property ownership.

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