A London judge has ruled against the estates of Jimi Hendrix’s bandmates in their long-running legal battle with Sony Music.
The heirs of the musicians were looking to be awarded royalties from the rock legend’s catalogue.
Following a seven-day trial that took place in December 2025, UK High Court Justice Edwin Johnson finally released a lengthy decision on Tuesday, dismissing the claims brought against Sony by the families of The Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell.
Redding and Mitchell’s families have been alleging since 2021 that they’re being unfairly deprived of royalties from three classic Hendrix Experience albums, including their 1968 chart-topper, Electric Ladyland.
Sony, which has distributed Hendrix’s music since 2009 under an exclusive license with the rocker’s heirs, maintains that it owes nothing to the two families.
In Tuesday’s ruling, obtained by Billboard, Justice Johnson ultimately sided with Sony after determining that Redding and Mitchell signed away future royalties as part of the band’s 1966 recording agreement.
Moreover, the judge said that even without these copyright ownership issues, all claims would be barred by settlements signed by both Redding and Mitchell with the Hendrix estate during probate proceedings in the early 1970s.
A spokesperson for Sony Music said in a statement that they are “thankful that this litigation, which has lasted over four years, has come to an end”.
Hendrix, described by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music”, died in 1970 at the age of 27 after choking on his own vomit.
Redding died in May 2003 at the age of 57 from complications due to cirrhosis of the liver.
Mitchell died in November 2008 from heart failure following the end of a US tribute tour.
