George Clinton Sues Ex-Partner Over Music Catalog Ownership
Funk music legend George Clinton has taken legal action against his former business associate, Armen Boladian, seeking to regain control of his extensive music catalog. The lawsuit, filed in a Florida federal court on Tuesday, accuses Boladian of engaging in fraudulent activities and copyright violations.
Fraudulent Schemes and Copyright Violations
According to the legal complaint, Clinton alleges that Boladian and his affiliated companies executed a “decades-long scheme”that involved forging Clinton’s signature on agreements that relinquished his rights to his music. This alleged deception has reportedly enabled Boladian to claim ownership of approximately 90% of Clinton’s catalog, while withholding tens of millions of dollars in unpaid royalties.
Seeking urgent relief, Clinton is requesting a court order to prevent Boladian from offering bids on the rights to his music, which he is alleged to be actively marketing. Additionally, Clinton is pursuing unspecified damages and has invoked a copyright law provision that permits creators to reclaim rights to their works after a specified duration.
Legal Response from Boladian
In response, Richard Busch, Boladian’s attorney, announced plans to contest the lawsuit and pursue sanctions. He stated, “This is just the latest in a series of lawsuits that Mr. Clinton has filed against Bridgeport and Armen Boladian over the last 30 years raising the same exact issues. He has lost each and every time.”
History of Legal Disputes
Clinton, recognized as the driving force behind iconic groups such as Funkadelic and Parliament, has consistently contended that the documents transferring ownership of his works were forged. Notably, a Florida federal judge ruled in Bridgeport’s favor in 2001 concerning several of his songs. Boladian maintains that he owes Clinton no money due to unrecouped expenses and advances extended to the musician throughout their business relationship.
Allegations of Misconduct
The lawsuit details numerous instances of alleged fraudulent actions by Boladian, who served as Clinton’s business partner and agent intermittently between 1968 and 1990. Among these accusations is Boladian’s alleged manipulation of Clinton into signing blank and general agreements, unintentionally giving Boladian rights over Clinton’s catalog.
The complaint asserts that, during a four-year span beginning in 1982, Boladian forged multiple contracts granting his companies increased rights and shares over Clinton’s music, subsequently enlarging Boladian’s royalty shares. Additionally, it alleges that Boladian fabricated songwriters’ names, such as “L. Crane” and “B. Blaine,” in copyright registrations for Clinton’s songs to minimize royalties.
Furthermore, Boladian reportedly paid third parties to falsely assert ownership of Clinton’s work, thereby defrauding him of royalties. For instance, the lawsuit states that Boladian compensated Mark Bass to falsely claim authorship of the song “Anybody Get Funked Up,” depriving Clinton of rightful royalty shares for this track.
Entities Involved in the Dispute
The companies implicated in the lawsuit, including Bridgeport Music, Westbound Records, Nine Records, Southfield Music, and Eastbound Records, primarily function as holding companies with no assets beyond the copyrights of various artists’ songs. These entities are notorious for initiating legal actions against artists who sample Clinton’s music without proper licensing, yet Clinton asserts that he has never received compensation from these litigation efforts.
Clinton’s lawsuit encompasses allegations of copyright infringement, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty, among other claims, reflecting a long-standing battle for recognition and rightful ownership of his musical legacy.