The estate of the late rapper DMX has achieved a significant legal victory regarding the ownership of his intellectual property rights, including copyrights and trademarks. A judge issued a ruling on April 7, 2025, rejecting claims made by DMX’s ex-wife, Tashera Simmons, who argued that she co-owned his IP rights acquired during their marriage and was entitled to 50% of the revenue generated from them.
The decision reinforces that the DMX estate, represented by law firms Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever, LLP and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is the sole owner of all intellectual property rights belonging to DMX, whose real name was Earl Simmons. The ruling clarifies that Simmons’ rights are limited to a portion of royalties from musical works released during their marriage, rather than any wider claim to the estate’s revenue.
Judge David F. Everett stated, “[The Estate] is the sole owner of all intellectual property rights (including all copyrights and trademark rights) that [DMX] acquired during his marriage to [Simmons], as well as any and all trademarks and intellectual property rights that belonged to [DMX] at the time of his death; except as specifically set forth in five Letters of Direction signed by [DMX].” The ruling further indicated that Simmons has no entitlement to any income generated from DMX’s services or intellectual property rights.
DMX passed away on April 9, 2021, at the age of 50, leaving behind a monumental legacy in hip-hop. He was known for his aggressive style and impactful lyricism that helped popularize the horrorcore genre. Throughout his career, he garnered numerous accolades, including an American Music Award and a Billboard Music Award, and received six Grammy nominations. Notably, he was the first artist to have his first five albums debut consecutively at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.
His 2002 hit “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” saw a resurgence in popularity after being featured in the 2016 Marvel film Deadpool. Following his death, DMX’s eighth and posthumous studio album, Exodus, was released on May 28, 2021, further cementing his enduring influence in the music industry.
The ruling in favor of the DMX estate marks a critical moment in the ongoing efforts to honor and preserve the legacy of one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures.
