Chuck D Is Latest to file a lawsuit Over Digital Download Royalties (Exclusive)

Getty ImagesChuck D Universal Group has become facing a brand new suit that alleges the underpaying of royalties on digital downloads. Today, Chuck D of Public Enemy walked as much as bring their own class action lawsuit from the major record label. The suit was filed in Bay Area federal court and allegesthat UMG routinely miscalculates the royalties owed to artists for digital downloads, for example Tunes and ring tones, by dealing with them as "sales" of physical records instead of "licenses." Chuck D's complaint follows around the heels of the federal judge's decision on Tuesday to maneuver forward on the similar consolidated class action lawsuit introduced by Take advantage of Zombie and also the estate of Ron James. Here's our report from today, which describes why the suit has become a offer the record business. In announcing the suit, Chuck D's lawyers at Hausfeld LLP states that UMG has under compensated 100s of huge amount of money in royalties and pointed to some decision this year through the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that provides some precedent that digital downloads ought to be treated as "licenses." "Chuck D continues to be 'fighting the power' for more than 2 decades and can continue doing so through this suit to be able to help all music artists, including many legacy artists who're living on fixed earnings," saidJames Pizzirusso, someone at Hausfeld LLP active in the situation. "This complaint is affected with serious defects and weak points, not minimal which would be that the claims asserted aren't right for class treatment," a UMG representative informs THR. "We'll intensely reduce the chances of it." E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner