Verizon In Hot Water With Bob Marley Estate......Again

In an unprecedented moved, Verizon Wireless has re-instated its Bob Marley Ringtone Promotion less than ten days since its withdrawal from the US market.

The US-based cellular provider had announced earlier this month that it had negotiated a deal with Universal records the parent company of Island Records, to sell ringtones derived from a number of Bob Marley songs. 

The agreement was suspended when the legal team of Bob Marley’s Estate; 56 Hope Road Music, sighted a breach due to unlicensed use of the artiste name and image. 

The Estate then threatened to sue both Verizon Wireless and Universal Records based on the breaches identified in United States intellectual property laws. Verizon Wireless discontinued the promotion, but seems to have found a loop hole based on legal advice. 

In an associated press report earlier this week, Island Records founder, Chris Blackwell criticized the Celluar provider for trying to circumvent the Bob Marley’s Estate. 

Chris Blackwell an advisor to 56 Hope Road Music, made it clear that Verizon had reneged on an arrangement to suspend the promotion until negotiations had been made with the estate in regards to use of name and image. But Verizon Wireless lawyers seemed to have found a legal loophole claiming third party indemnity, stating that arrangements for use of the trademark and image in question was covered under the agreement with Universal Records, the parent company of Island Records. 

Sources close to Bob Marley’s tentatively confirmed the possibility of a lawsuit, but would not issue a statement on the matter.

ReggaeWire News Network

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