Eminem pub wins court ruling

LOVE THE WAY YOU RULE: F.B.T. Productions, the first publishing company to sign Eminem, has won a legal victory against UMG and Aftermath, as the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed an earlier ruling regarding digital royalties. The basttle started last year, when F.B.T. attempted to reclassify licenses for downloads and ringtones as separate from those for CDs, which would have ramped up the royalty rates. A lower court ruling denied these changes, but the Appeals court concluded that they had merit, stating, "We agree that the contracts are unambiguous and that the district court should have granted summary judgment to F.B.T." UMG says it will appeal. (9/7a)