The Isley Brothers have finally settled their long-running legal battle over their trademark, though the details of the settlement remain undisclosed.
Ronald Isley and the estate of his late brother Rudolph Isley have filed a stipulation of dismissal in Chicago federal court, ending their lengthy legal battle over “The Isley Brothers” trademark without a court ruling or disclosed settlement terms.
The filing is a dismissal with prejudice—meaning the estate cannot refile the claims—leaving the trademark registration secured by Ronald Isley in August 2022 active in his name alone.
Rudolph Isley initiated the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Norhtern District of Illinois back in March 2023, claiming the trademark was joint property in their long-standing Isley Brothers partnership. He requested a 50% share of commercial proceeds and an accounting of revenues.
At the time, Rudolph was 83 and living in Illinois, while Ronald was 81 and living in Missouri. Unfortunately, Rudolph passed away just months after filing the lawsuit, but his estate has continued proceedings on his behalf.
Rudolph, Ronald, and O’Kelly Isley Jr. formed the group in Cincinnati around 1954. The Isley Brothers toured and recorded in their original iteration until 1973. At that point, the lineup expanded to include Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, and brother-in-law Chris Jasper. In 1984, those three left to perform as Isley Jasper Isley, while ownership and control of The Isley Brothers’ name stayed with the group’s founding members.
In 1986, O’Kelley Isley passed away without a will, so a court passed his interests to his two brothers equally. Rudolph stopped recording and performing with the group in 1989 due to poor health and his brother’s death, but he remained active in promoting and managing its assets, according to court documents. Rudolph also continued to be paid royalties from sales of the group’s recordings and from producers licensing samples.
Ronald Isley moved to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that any partnership owning the group’s trademark had dissolved when O’Kelly died and that Rudolph had retained no rights to the name after leaving the group.
The judge agreed the initial partnership would have dissolved as a matter of law when O’Kelly died, as no express agreement to continue it had been issued. But the complaint implied a two-man partnership between the surviving brothers afterwards and pointed to their continued joint dealings on the group’s behalf. Further, Illinois law presumes that someone receiving a share of profits is considered a partner.
However, the case has remained at an apparent impasse since late 2023, but now both parties have reached publicly undisclosed terms, and the suit will be dismissed.
Ronald Isley continues to perform in his 80s to sold-out crowds, which is a testament to the tenacity of older legendary musicians. He performed earlier this month at Philadelphia’s Dell Music Center, where he revealed he had recently recovered from a five-week hospital stay.
