The family of the composer of the song 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' has dropped a case against Disney regarding allegations of copyright infringement relating to the use of the song in the Lion King franchise.
As previously reported, South African Solomon Linda wrote the original Zulu tune in 1939. He sold the rights to a South African firm, but received little for it, dying in poverty in 1962. That South African rights holder sold the American rights to the song to a US firm, who in turn licensed it to Disney for use in the Lion King.
However, according to the copyright law active in South Africa at the time Linda sold the rights to the song, the copyright should have reverted back to his estate twenty-five 25 years after his death - in 1987. On that basis his family should have been receiving a share of any royalties on the song ever since.
While a number of artists have covered the song over the years, those rights became particularly valuable after its use by Disney, leading to the lawsuit against the film studio and the American company who had licensed the track.
But Linda's family have now reached a settlement with that American rights holder, which includes a back payment on past royalties and a right to participate in future royalty earnings. As part of that settlement the family will drop their claims against Disney.