A New York judge has ruled that Drake’s legal team can proceed with the discovery process, denying Universal Music Group’s (UMG) request to delay it. During a pre-trial conference, Judge Jeanette Vargas allowed the discovery to move forward, paving the way for Drake’s team to depose key executives and request document production.
Drake’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, responded to the ruling, stating, “Now it’s time to see what UMG was so desperately trying to hide.”
The decision marks a significant step in the ongoing legal battle, as Drake’s team will now have access to potentially critical information from UMG.
Last month, the ongoing legal battle between Drake and Universal Music Group (UMG) took a new turn, as the label has filed a motion to dismiss the rapper’s defamation lawsuit regarding Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss track, “Not Like Us.”
UMG argues that Drake’s accusations of manipulation and artificial boosting of the song’s success lack merit and should not be considered defamatory. The label also points to diss tracks’ historical, artistic, and cultural significance, stating that the genre inherently involves hyperbole, opinion, and exaggerated insults, making Drake’s claims legally weak.
While Drake’s fans have resisted UMG’s argument, questioning the ethics of industry influence, the label’s supporters point to inconsistencies in the lawsuit. Now, it’s up to the courts to decide whether the case will proceed or be dismissed.
In a key development, Drake recently dropped his claims against iHeartMedia, which he previously accused of participating in unlawful payola practices to boost airplay for “Not Like Us.” According to Rolling Stone, iHeart provided documents proving it had done nothing wrong, leading to a mutual resolution between both parties.