LOS ANGELES, California — A federal judge has ruled that the new incarnation of Death Row Records does not have the rights to sell Dr. Dre’s iconic rap album “The Chronic” digitally.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder states that the rapper and producer has received far less money in royalties from online sales of the album than he should have. The ruling does not call for digital sales of Dre’s music to halt, but provides a mechanism for him to recoup damages later.
The ruling also states that WIDEawake Death Row Records doesn’t have the right to use songs from “The Chronic” on compilations without permission.
WIDEawake bought rights to the former rap label’s collection after it declared bankruptcy. WIDEawake’s attorney, Michael Holtz, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.