Ghostface and Sony Win Lawsuit Over ‘Ironman’ Theme

In a ruling that is expected to have far-reaching implications for the music industry, US District Court Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald has determined that Marvel, rather than composer Jack Urbont, controls the publishing rights for "Iron Man Theme," the song that was sampled twice on Ghostface's sophomore album, Supreme Clientele. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Buchwald's ruling establishes an important distinction in the way composition work from the 1960s and '70s is treated by the courts. Though Urbont believed that he was owed royalties for the usage of the theme, which he created, the court determined that the song was created on a "work-for-hire" basis, meaning the composer was only entitled to a one-time fee. Read the ruling in its entirety here, or, if you're interested in following the case as it snakes its way through the legal system, know that Urbont has now filed a motion for reconsideration.

The "Iron Man Theme" case has hung over Ghostface's head for a while now; it threatened (and still threatens) to be a financial albatross difficult to shake. In spite of that--or maybe because of it--the Wu-Tang legend has been prolific over the past several years, most recently releasing Sour Soul, a collaboration with Canadian jazz trio BADBADNOTGOOD.

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