George Clinton Files $100M Lawsuit In Fight For His Music Rights

Geroge Clinton has filed an $100 million lawsuit against Armen Boladian and Bridgeport Music, alleging that Boladian fraudulently obtained ownership of approximately 90% of his musical catalog.

According to Variety, on Tuesday (March 11), during a press conference outside of the Apollo Theatre, Clinton announced the suit, which comes amid his fight to gain ownership of the copyrights to his biggest hits.

Joined by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, Clinton gave insight into his reasoning behind filing the suit, citing his personal legacy and his desire for his family to benefit from the fruits of his labor.

“These songs we’re talking about is my history,” Clinton said while addressing the crowd. “I have to fight for them; I have to make sure that I did not do all of this my whole life and have my family here, not get what’s due to them, what they inherit.”

“We don’t have a chance to pass down 40 acres and mules to our families. We do not have the copyrights for the songs. So I’m here along with Ben and partners to make sure that Armen does not get what we worked so hard for.”

The 83-year-old continued, “This is about my family and the family of the other legacy artists and us being able to give generational wealth to our family from our intellectual property.”

Officially filed in Florida District Court, the lawsuit alleges that Boladian withheld millions of dollars in royalties from the prolific songwriter.

Clinton also claims that Boladian, his label, Bridgeport Music, and labels including Westbound Records, Nine Records, Southfield Music and Eastbound Records, unlawfully continue to profit off of his music.

“I will continue to speak truth to power and to fight against the forces that have separated so many songwriters from their music, the Parliament-Funkadelic founder said during his speech.

“I encourage all my fellow artists to investigate, interrogate, litigate, unseal, reveal. If we don’t get this right, then they win, and I refuse to let them win.”

This isn’t the first time Clinton has taken Boladian to court regarding ownership of his music. In 2001, the musician lost a copyright lawsuit when a Florida court granted Boladian and Bridgeport Music the rights to Clinton’s songs from 1976–1983. 

Two decades later, Clinton won a defamation lawsuit filed by Boladian over claims made in Clinton’s biography regarding his alleged shady business practices.