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.