George Clinton Files $100 Million Copyright Lawsuit Against Former Business Partner

variety.com:

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer George Clinton has filed a $100 million copyright lawsuit against former business partner Armen Boladian and his Bridgeport Music company, alleging that Boladian fraudulently obtained copyrights to approximately 90 percent of his catalog.

In the suit, filed today in Florida District Court and reviewed by Variety, Clinton claims that Boladian and Bridgeport, as well as Westbound Records, Nine Records, Southfield Music and Eastbound Records, unlawfully continue to profit off of his music.

Clinton held a press conference outside of the Apollo Theatre to announce the suit along with his attorney Ben Crump and fellow counsel, stating that he intends to reclaim ownership of his catalog to provide generational wealth to his family. “These songs we’re talking about is my history,” said Clinton. “I have to fight for them, I have to make sure that I did not do all of this my whole life and have my family here, not get what’s due to them, what they inherit.

We don’t have a chance to pass down 40 acres and mules to our families. We do not have the copyrights for the songs. So I’m here along with Ben and partners to make sure that Armen does not get what we worked so hard for.” The suit claims that Boladian, Clinton’s longtime business partner, withheld millions of dollars in royalties and engaged in deceptive and fraudulent practices over the years.