George Clinton Sues Bridgeport Music for $100 Million Over Alleged Music Rights Theft
George Clinton has filed a $100 million lawsuit against his former business partner Armen Boladian and Bridgeport Music, alleging massive copyright theft of approximately 90% of his music catalog. The lawsuit was filed in Florida District Court.
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Photo Credit: George Clinton by Raj Gupta / CC by 2.0
The lawsuit claims Boladian fraudulently obtained rights to Clinton's works between 1982-1985 by:
- Fabricating multiple agreements
- Adding fake names to copyright registrations
- Diluting royalty shares
- Withholding millions in royalties
Clinton held a press conference at the Apollo Theatre alongside attorney Ben Crump to announce his intention to reclaim ownership of his catalog for his family's generational wealth. "These songs we're talking about is my history," Clinton stated. "I have to fight for 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 proceedings and settlements
- In 2021, Boladian lost a defamation suit against Clinton over claims made in Clinton's 2014 autobiography
Boladian's attorney Richard Busch dismissed the new lawsuit, stating Clinton has "lost each and every time" in similar past cases and they will seek dismissal with sanctions.
Clinton remains determined: "I will continue to speak truth to power and to fight against the forces that have separated so many songwriters from their music. If we don't get this right, then they win, and I refuse to let them win."
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