Tupac Song Rights Suit Turns on High Court ‘Discovery Rule’ Case

Rap producer Terence Thomas filed his lawsuit over rights to Tupac Shakur’s 1990s hit song “Dear Mama” right as the US Supreme Court began to contemplate opening the door wide for copyright holders who didn’t know their rights were being violated for years.

Thomas, known as DJ Master Tee, said in his November lawsuit—filed nearly three decades after Tupac’s single was released—he was unaware until this year that producer Tony D. Pizzaro allegedly usurped credit and royalties for his part helping Shakur craft “Dear Mama.” That suit was filed just weeks after the justices agreed to hear Chappell Warner Music ...