A New York judge has sided with the estate of late rap icon DMX in a legal dispute over the rights to his intellectual property, effectively rejecting a claim made by his ex-wife, Tashera Simmons.
In a court ruling issued on April 7, Judge David F. concluded that DMX’s estate retains sole ownership of all intellectual property (IP) rights acquired during the rapper’s marriage to Simmons.
The ruling also applies to all copyrights and trademark rights DMX held at the time of his death in April 2021.
The Dispute
Simmons had asserted that she co-owned 50% of the Yonkers rapper’s IP—an umbrella that includes royalties, copyrights, trademarks, and future revenue stemming from his iconic body of work. However, the court found no legal basis to support her claim.
The estate, represented by the law firms Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever, LLP and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, maintained that all of DMX’s intellectual property belongs to the estate unless explicitly transferred in writing. The judge agreed.
“The Estate is the sole owner of all intellectual property rights… that [DMX] acquired during his marriage to [Simmons], as well as any and all trademarks and intellectual property rights that belonged to [DMX] at the time of his death; except as specifically outlined in five Letters of Direction signed by [DMX],” the judge’s order states.
What Tashera Will Receive
Although Simmons will not have any stake in DMX’s ongoing IP or brand revenue, the court did award her a share of recording and music publishing royalties from works created during their marriage.
The decision draws a clear legal line between ongoing IP control and royalties tied to music released while they were still together—a distinction common in estate litigation involving high-profile artists.
DMX’s Legacy and the Importance of IP
DMX, born Earl Simmons, was one of the most influential voices in hip-hop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. With multiple platinum albums including It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot and …And Then There Was X, the artist left behind a complex legacy of gritty storytelling, legal troubles, and spiritual introspection.
The ruling ensures that the estate—tasked with managing his music, image, and brand—has full legal authority to protect and license his name and works moving forward.
For many artists and their families, intellectual property is a critical source of long-term value, especially as posthumous albums, licensing deals, and tributes continue to shape an artist’s cultural footprint.
