Richie Ramone loses lawsuit against estate of Joey Ramone, Apple

Former Ramones drummer Richard "Richie Ramone" Reinhardt has lost the lawsuit he filed last September. The suit named estate of Johnny Ramone, Apple itunes, Wal–Mart, Real Rhapsody and others for the digital use of the six songs he wrote while a Ramone.

The suit hinged on whether Richie had relinquished digital rights when he signed his contract with the band. U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin said in a ruling Friday that the contract 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's six songs for the Ramones were "Smash You," "Somebody Put Something in My Drink," "Human Kind," "I'm Not Jesus," "I Know Better Now" and "(You) Can't Say Something Nice."