Dallas, Texas — The estate of Melvin Noble Jr., known in the music world as the rapper Mo3, has secured exclusive ownership of his vocal recordings following a recent jury verdict. U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant formalized the decision on May 12, confirming the jury’s findings from April 28 that favored Noble’s estate in a contentious legal battle.
The lawsuit arose after Noble’s family accused former sound engineer Ray G. Bollin Jr. of copyright infringement and other legal missteps. Filing in August 2023, the estate claimed Bollin refused to return Noble’s music files after his tragic death. The rapper was fatally shot in Oak Cliff on November 11, 2020, in an incident characterized by prosecutors as a murder-for-hire scheme.
The trial drew significant attention, particularly after Dallas rapper Yella Beezy was arrested on capital murder charges related to Noble’s death last month. This backdrop added layers of complexity to the proceedings, which lasted a week and culminated with the jury’s deliberation lasting roughly two hours.
In their conclusion, jurors determined that Bollin was not a co-author of Noble’s vocal tracks and fell short of fulfilling an agreement to return the recordings when requested by the estate. They found him liable for conversion and tortious interference, violation of copyright, and unauthorized use of Noble’s identity, violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Despite the jury’s findings against Bollin, the damages awarded were modest. The estate received a total of $5,000, which included $2,500 for the DMCA breach and an equal amount for the unauthorized use of Noble’s name and likeness.
This case highlights ongoing disputes in the music industry over ownership and rights, particularly in situations involving deceased artists. As technology advances, the complexities of copyright law and its enforcement continue to evolve, underscoring the importance of safeguarding an artist’s legacy.
The ruling not only secures Noble’s artistic works for his estate but also reiterates the legal protections available to intellectual property rights holders. With his recordings now firmly in his family’s grasp, the path for future releases and preservation of Noble’s contributions to music is clearer.
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