Sony Music say they are "surprised and disappointed" that their Mexican offices were raided by the local authorities following a dispute with singer Alejandro Fernández, one of Latin music's biggest stars.
Fernandez had a ten year relationship with Sony in Mexico, but recently signed a new deal with Universal after his seven album contract with Sony came to an end. There seems to be some disagreement over the ownership of the master recordings made during the time Fernandez was signed to Sony, especially of recordings never released, and also of Sony's rights to repackage past recordings and release new albums featuring old work.
Fernandez's people seemingly got particularly edgy when Sony announced its intent to release a new album of old recordings to compete with the singer's first new album for Universal.
Fernandez's management say they issued Sony with a cease and desist letter in relation to their re-release plans and, when they didn't comply, they went to the Federal Court in Mexico City. That court claim led to federal police searching Sony's Mexico premises and, seemingly, seizing over 6000 CDs and other materials relating to Fernandez.
Responding to the police raid, Sony said it was "surprised and disappointed" the Mexican courts had approved such action, adding that the Fernandez recordings in its possession were "totally authorised" by their past contract with the singer, and concluding: "We trust that the Mexican courts will confirm our rights as soon as possible".