Billboard reports the estates of David Noel Redding and John Graham “Mitch” Mitchell filed a cease-and-desist letter to the Hendrix estate and Sony Music last month while allegedly threatening to sue for copyright infringement despite decades-old agreements signed by both in the early 1970s that included “significant monetary consideration” and saw the pair sign away any rights to future claims over the band’s recordings.
While the Redding and Mitchell estates argue the agreements are unenforceable, the Hendrix estate and Sony Music filed the joint action Tuesday in Manhattan federal court seeking a legal declaration that they owe nothing to the pair’s heirs.
“For almost half a century,” the Hendrix estate and Sony Music wrote, “there has never been any claim by defendants or their successors … concerning the copyright ownership, exploitation of these recordings by plaintiffs, or payments of royalties.”
Tuesday’s lawsuit is a so-called declaratory judgment action, meaning the Hendrix estate and Sony aren’t suing for damages, but simply for a ruling that they’ve done nothing wrong.
The guitarist formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience with Redding and Mitchell in 1966; they recorded three studio albums – 1967’s “Are You Experienced” and “Axis: Bold As Love”, and 1968’s “Electric Ladyland” – before disbanding in 1969.
Hendrix died in 1970, Redding passed away in 2003 and Mitchell died in 2008; the Jimi Hendrix Experience were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1992.
Read more about the legal action at billboard.com.
See also:
Jimi Hendrix nominated for 2022 Grammy Award
Jimi Hendrix streams Foxey Lady from 1970 Maui performance
Jimi Hendrix documentary and 1970 live album due this fall
Jimi Hendrix: Band Of Gypys 50th anniversary reissue coming to vinyl
Search Jimi Hendrix at hennemusic
