Tashera Simmons, ex-wife of DMX, has lost her bid to claim half of his music rights and intellectual property.
Simmons claimed she was entitled to 50% of his copyrights, trademarks, and likeness. However, the court rejected her argument, stating that the agreement contained no explicit language assigning ownership of the rapper’s intellectual property.
“The 2016 settlement agreement does not unequivocally assign ownership of the decedent’s copyrighted works or trademark and, indeed, makes no mention of ownership or title to such property,” the judge declared. “The plaintiff has no income interest and is not otherwise entitled to any monies of any kind generated by or attributable to services rendered by Earl Simmons.”
The court confirmed that DMX’s estate remains the sole owner of all trademarks and copyrights tied to his name and music, including those created during his marriage to Simmons. The judge clarified that references in the divorce documents pertained only to royalty payments and not actual ownership.
DMX, real name Earl Simmons, who began rapping in the early 1990s, passed away on April 9, 2021, at only 50 years old. He was known for his aggressive style and violent lyricism, which helped popularize the horrorcore genre.
DMX left behind 15 children and no will, triggering a complex legal scramble among family members and associates over control of his estate, estimated to generate $17.7 million in future music royalties.