Jobim Family Sues

The family of legendary bossa nova guitarist Antonio Carlos Jobim has filed suit against Universal Studios and Universal Music Publishing Group, alleging that the rights to many of the late Brazilian musician’s songs were fraudulently granted to the man who translated them into English.

The suit seeks the return of the copyrights to the songs in question, including the famed “The Girl From Ipanema,” and unspecified damages for breach of contract and nonpayment of royalties, according to Reuters.

The Universal companies never owned the copyrights, the suit alleges, and had no right to grant them to anyone else after the composer’s 1994 death.

“The Jobims obviously take quite seriously both the legacy and the rights of Antonio Carlos Jobim. They did not embark on this course lightly and are fully confident their position will be vindicated,” said John Rosenberg, attorney for Jobim’s widow and three children, according to Reuters.