Diddy vows to appeal ruling barring sales of 'ready to die'

By: Yves Erwin Salomon

Sean "Diddy" Combs and his Bad Boy Entertainment label plan to appeal a ruling made by U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell last week which banned the sale of the late Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 debut, Ready To Die, because the album's title track featured an unauthorized sample of the Ohio Players track "Singing In The Morning." Combs's legal team told allhiphop.com, "The verdict was erroneous and against the great weight of the evidence. We are very confident that it will be reversed on appeal."

Judge Campbell awarded the plaintiffs in the case, Bridgeport Music and Westbound Records, $4.2 million in punitive damages. The two companies own the rights to the Ohio Players catalogue.

In the meantime, the Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready To Die is no longer available for radio play, downloads, or sale.