George Clinton Sues Bridgeport Music for $100M Over Alleged Music Rights Theft
George Clinton has filed a $100 million lawsuit against Armen Boladian and Bridgeport Music, alleging widespread copyright theft and fraudulent practices involving approximately 90% of Clinton's music catalog.
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Photo Credit: George Clinton by Raj Gupta / CC by 2.0
The lawsuit, filed in Florida District Court, claims Boladian fraudulently obtained copyrights through deceptive practices between 1982 and 1985, including:
- Fabricating multiple agreements
- Adding fake names to copyright registrations
- Diluting royalty shares
- Withholding millions in royalties
Clinton aims to reclaim ownership of his catalog to provide generational wealth for his family. "These songs we're talking about is my history," Clinton stated during a press conference at the Apollo Theatre. "I have to make sure that my family gets what's due to them."
The legal battle between Clinton and Boladian spans decades:
- In 2001, Clinton lost a copyright case when a Florida judge ruled music from 1976-1983 belongs to Bridgeport
- Boladian filed hundreds of sampling lawsuits in 2001, excluding Clinton from litigation proceeds
- In 2021, Boladian lost a defamation suit against Clinton over claims made in Clinton's 2014 autobiography
Boladian's attorney Richard Busch responded: "This is just the latest in a series of lawsuits... He has lost each and every time... We will be moving to dismiss this lawsuit and will be seeking sanctions."
Clinton remains determined: "I will continue to speak truth to power and fight against the forces that have separated so many songwriters from their music. I encourage all my fellow artists to investigate, interrogate, litigate, unseal, reveal."
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