Marley Heirs Sue Relative

A legal feud is on between the late Bob Marley’s widow, Rita, the singer’s nine children and Marley’s half-brother, Richard Booker, over Booker’s alleged copyright and trademark infringement of the family name.

The lawsuit, filed Dec. 1 in federal court, accuses Booker and affiliated companies of deception by using Marley’s name for photographs, lyrics, symbols and other intellectual property without the family’s consent.

Among the affiliate businesses are the Bob Marley Movement of Jah People Inc., host of the Nine Mile Music Festival held in Florida, other businesses using “Nine Mile” in their names as well as a restaurant in Jamaica named Mama Marley’s. Nine Mile is the area of Jamaica where Marley lived and was buried.

The suit says the Marley family had at one point reached a licensing agreement with Booker but claims Booker backed out on the deal.

The family seeks unspecified damages and is asking a judge to stop Booker and related companies from using any Marley-related references.