Former Ramones drummer loses royalties lawsuit

A judge has thrown out a lawsuit by a former Ramones drummer who says he was cheated out of royalties.

US District Judge Shira Scheindlin said in a ruling that a contract Richard “Richie Ramone” Reinhardt signed when he performed with the Ramones between 1983 and 1987 clearly covered digital uses of his songs.

She noted that the contract defining phonograph records contained the words “now or hereafter known” when referring to forms of reproduction, making it clear that future technologies are covered by the agreement.

Reinhardt filed a lawsuit last year claiming he was owed nearly $1m in royalties on songs sold over the internet.

He wrote six songs for the group.