The estate of the late Dallas rapper Mo3 has now firmly acquired full ownership over his unreleased vocal recordings, concluding a bitter legal battle and solidifying his posthumous artistic legacy.
A federal jury in Dallas found sound engineer Ray G. Bollin Jr. liable on several counts, including copyright infringement, unauthorized use of Mo3’s name and likeness, and violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, in a unanimous verdict in favor of Mo3’s estate. The ruling is that Bollin, who had some unreleased Mo3 material that he refused to release, ultimately owns nothing.
While the estate was ultimately granted only $5,000 in damages,$2,500 for the DMCA violation, and $2,500 for unauthorized use of Mo3’s image and name, the ruling is being hailed as a significant symbolic and legal victory. It may not be much money, but long-term control over Mo3’s creative output is most valuable here.
The suit, filed in August 2023, followed Bollin’s purported refusal to give Mo3’s unreleased music back to his estate after the rapper’s untimely death last November. Mo3, whose real name was Melvin Noble, was shot on Interstate 35 in an apparent act of shocking violence that, according to authorities, played a part in a murder-for-hire scheme. Fellow Dallas rapper Yella Beezy has been charged in connection with the killing since.
The estate claimed Bollin had not only blocked the unreleased tracks but was also trying to profit from them without permission a claim the jurors took two hours to unanimously dismiss.
“This ruling not only protects Mo3’s music, it also protects his legacy, his voice, and his family’s ability to protect that legacy on their terms,” said a source close to the estate. “It’s not just about files but about dignity.”
The case has also specifically raised a larger issue currently rippling through the music industry: What becomes of an artist’s creative work after they’re gone? So-called disputes over posthumous releases or who controls the rights have plagued the estates of legends like Prince, DMX, and Nipsey Hussle. Now, Mo3’s case enters that conversation as a caution and a precedent for protecting intellectual property from beyond the grave.
Hostile performances filtered through Mo3’s raw talent and gripping storytelling to create a devoted fan base. The court win guarantees that any unreleased music still sitting in the vault will be overseen by people who have his best interests at stake.
But while no court decision can restore a life lost too soon, this one does something close: It ensures that Mo3’s voice, quite literally, lives on for future generations. And in a world where legacy is as fragile as it is potent, that is a win worth celebrating.
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