Shabba Ranks Sues Greensleeves Publishing to Reclaim Dancehall Classics
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Post By
DJ Longers
- September 14, 2026
‘Mr. Loverman’ Hits the Courts: Shabba Ranks Sues Greensleeves Publishing to Reclaim Dancehall Classics
NEW YORK — Dancehall icon Shabba Ranks has launched a major legal battle against the publishing arm of Greensleeves Records, seeking to regain the US rights to his defining catalogue of 1990s hits.
The lawsuit, filed on Friday 11th September in a US federal court by attorneys representing the two-time Grammy winner (born Rexton Gordon), invokes Section 203 of the US Copyright Act. The provision, commonly known as the copyright termination right allows creators to claw back ownership of their intellectual property 35 years after assigning it away.
Among the disputed compositions are some of the most influential dancehall records in history, including Billboard Hot 100 hits Mr. Loverman, Slow and Sexy, Housecall, and Let's Get It On. Also at stake is his seminal 1990 track Dem Bow, whose foundational rhythm laid the musical bedrock for modern reggaetón.
The ‘Work for Hire’ Stumbling Block
According to court filings first reported by Billboard, Gordon initially served Greensleeves with formal termination notices in 2023, seeking to effectuate the copyright handover. However, the publisher rejected the notices, contending that Gordon’s 1989 contract classified his songs as "works made for hire"—a legal designation explicitly exempted from statutory termination rights.
In the complaint, Gordon’s legal team at Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt strongly rejected the publisher’s position:
"The compositions are not and could not have been works made for hire under the US Copyright Act, regardless of the language of the assignment," Gordon’s attorneys stated in the filing. "Gordon was never at any time an employee of [Greensleeves], and musical compositions are not recognised in the US Copyright Act as a type of work that can be deemed a work made for hire simply by agreement between the hiring party and a non-employee author."
The lawsuit asks a federal judge to rule the 1989 contractual clause invalid and declare the copyright termination fully effective.
A Growing Legal Battleground
Gordon’s legal challenge comes amidst a wave of high-profile copyright termination disputes across the music industry. Legendary hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa are currently embroiled in a similar battle against Universal Music Group over their catalogue rights.
The outcome of the case carries significant stakes. As one of the first Jamaican dancehall artists to achieve mainstream crossover success in the United States, Gordon’s catalog represents a pivotal chapter in global pop music history.
Case Profile — Rexton Gordon v. Greensleeves Publishing
| Profile Feature | Official Details |
| Plaintiff | Rexton Gordon p/k/a Shabba Ranks |
| Defendant | Greensleeves Publishing (Greensleeves Records) |
| Key Compositions | Mr. Loverman, Slow and Sexy, Housecall, Dem Bow |
| Statutory Basis | Section 203, US Copyright Act (Copyright Termination) |
| Core Dispute | Validity of "Work for Hire" clause in 1989 publishing contract |
Awaiting Court Proceedings
Representatives for Greensleeves Publishing have not yet issued a formal public response to the court filing.
If Gordon is successful, the ruling could pave the way for other pioneer reggae and dancehall artists of the late 1980s and early 1990s to reclaim their publishing rights from legacy European and American music labels.
