The Band rocker Levon Helm has lost the rights to his signature song The Weight.
The singer and drummer filed a lawsuit against bosses at advertising agency Bbdo Worldwide back in 2004, alleging executives used his hit tune in a TV spot for phone company Cingular Wireless, now AT&T, without his permission.
But on Thursday (01Mar12), the New York state Appellate Division ended the eight-year legal battle and ruled against Helm after learning the star had signed a contract in 1968 with The Band's former record company, allowing label executives to licence the track for commercial use.
The Band were one of the best rock groups of the '60s and '70s, creating...