Prince's Estate Accuses Jay-Z’s Roc Nation of Fabricating Deal with Late Singer
By TheBlast Staff on November 14, 2017 at 2:01 AM EST
Prince's estate is accusing Jay-Z’s Roc Nation of fabricating documents in their legal battle over the rights to stream his music.
NPG Records sued Roc Nation and the company behind Jay-Z’s music streaming site, Tidal, last year. They accused Tidal of copyright infringement for streaming 15 of Prince’s albums without permission.
NPG claimed Tidal only had a 90-day license for his then-new album, "Hit N Run: Phase 1." Roc Nation and Tidal deny they did anything wrong and claim they had a deal with Prince to stream his work.
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, NPG Records now says they uncovered evidence that the alleged contract the defendants are relying on was "fabricated and back-dated to appear authentic."
"Tidal Entities refuse to provide basic information about the contracts they claim they had with Prince," NPG says. "The Tidal Entities claim that they do not need to answer interrogatories regarding the basis for contracts allegedly formed orally and through a course of dealing because the topic is 'better suited to deposition.'"
NPG is demanding the court force Roc Nation to turn over the documents related to the alleged agreement with Prince.
The case is ongoing.
