BY ELIJAH C. WATSON • OCT 19 2019
Chuck D has filed a publishing lawsuit in federal court against a music publisher who he claims took copyright ownership of 28 songs he recently made without his approval.
In a report from Billboard, D (real name Carlton Ridenhour) filed the lawsuit on Oct 15 against Michael Closter and his Reach Global music publishing company. In it, he claimed that Closter of using “false registration and orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to obtain ownership interests in the musical compositions written and co-written” by the Public Enemy rapper. Among some of the songs listed include Common‘s “Black America Again” and Prophets of Rage‘s “Counteroffensive” and “Fired a Shot.”
The situation began back in October 2001 when Closter suggested to D that they form a music publishing company, which led to the creation of Terrordome Music Publishing. Through their agreement, Closter’s company Reach was entitled to 10% of from Terrordome publishing and licensing deals. Closter and D also had a split for proceeds made through Terrordome: the former’s Reach Global would receive 42% while the latter’s Bring the Noize Music (BTNM) company would receive 58%.
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