Rita Marley and nine of her children are suing Richard Booker, one of the late reggae great’s half-brothers, for illegal use of Bob’s likeness and breach of copyright laws. Tuff Gong’s brother from another father owns several businesses including a restaurant in Jamaica called Mama Marley’s and the Nine Mile Music Festival, named after Bob’s childhood home and grave site.
TMZ reported that a lawsuit filed on December 2 demands a stop to Booker’s use of the Marley name and the entirety of profits from his businesses.
Three of the plaintiffs, Damien, Stephen, and Julian Marley, are slotted to perform during the 19th annual Nine Mile concert in 2012. The gathering began as a fan club in 1981, the year of the then 36-year old’s death due to cancer, and has raised over two million cans of food for donation to shelters in Jamaica and it’s host city Miami, Florida.
David Woodson
