It was decided late last month that the Ray Charles Foundation will hold all rights to the late singer’s name, likeness, celebrity and other intellectual property. Apparently before his death in 2002, Charles explained to his children of his decision to forgo all the rights to his intellectual property to The Foundation. Each child would instead receive a one-time payment from their trusts in cash. The lawsuit was then filed in April 2008. Now the Foundation, which has donated more than $10 million in grants (Dillard University, The United Negro College Fund, Oralingua School for the Hearing Impaired, to name a few) devoted to the hearing impaired, will receive compensatory damages and have their attorney’s fees paid.—WLW
Do you think Ray Charles’ kids had the right to sue for their dad’s intellectual property?