Drake has gotten the upper hand in his legal battle against Universal Music Group (UMG) after a judge denied the label’s request to halt the discovery process.
The ruling, which came down on Wednesday, April 2, marks a setback for UMG, which had argued that the rapper was demanding access to highly sensitive corporate documents.
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The case stems from Drake’s lawsuit against the label, in which he seeks information regarding UMG’s internal dealings, including executive compensation and artiste contracts.
UMG pushed to pause discovery, insisting that the requested materials were too commercially sensitive to be shared. However, the court found no sufficient reason to grant their request.
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According to the judge, UMG has the right to challenge specific discovery requests, but a total halt to the process was not needed. With this decision, Drake and his legal team will be able to gather information for their case, dealing a blow to the label’s attempt to limit their moves.
Despite this win, the case is far from over. The judge has yet to rule on a separate motion by UMG to dismiss the lawsuit entirely. A hearing on that matter is set for June 30, meaning the battle between the Canadian rapper and his longtime label is far from resolved.
Drake’s legal team celebrated the ruling, suggesting that UMG’s resistance to discovery only raises further questions about what they might be trying to keep hidden.
His lead attorney emphasised that the decision paves the way for critical information to come to light, adding that it is time to see what the label has been so determined to shield from scrutiny.
