Missy Elliott has successfully settled a long-standing lawsuit with music producer Terry Williams, who claimed to have co-written several songs with the hip-hop icon during the 1990s. The settlement, reached just before a jury trial was set to begin, puts an end to the legal battle that has been ongoing since 2018.
The agreement was finalized on August 22 in a federal courtroom in Philadelphia. Williams alleged that he collaborated with Elliott on multiple tracks but was unfairly excluded from the songwriting credits. Although the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, Elliott’s attorney, Mike Trauben, confirmed that no financial compensation was made in relation to Williams’ claims, which have now been dismissed.
However, Trauben noted that a “small sum” was paid to acquire beats created by Williams that were used in songs owned by Elliott. Additionally, all of Elliott’s writings and music previously held in storage by Williams have been returned to her.
The lawsuit centered around Elliott’s early career with the R&B girl group SISTA, where she gained recognition before her rise to solo stardom. Williams claimed he co-wrote four songs from SISTA’s 1994 album, 4 All the Sistas Around da World, and sought royalties stemming from the album’s release.
Throughout the case, Elliott maintained her position that Williams did not contribute to the songwriting. Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro previously ruled that the conflicting narratives necessitated a jury trial to determine the facts of the case. However, the judge dismissed a separate claim from Williams regarding co-writing the 1996 Aaliyah track “Heartbroken,” citing the statute of limitations.
The lawsuit also involved additional claims against Timbaland, who produced the SISTA album, as well as major record labels including Elektra, Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group, and Reservoir Media. Those claims remain pending as the case against Elliott has now concluded.
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