Recording industry dirty dealings are not a new phenomonon, and they can even happen to the biggest names in music.

The Beatles (well, Paul, Ringo and the estates of George and John) are seeking damages in the amount of $25 million US as well as the return of all the band's master recordings from label EMI.

The dispute centers around claims of underpayment and sales number manipulation (sound familliar?) for the period of 1994 through 1999. The Fab Four alledge that EMI inappropriately claimed copies sold as promotional (thus avoiding royalties), as well as having declared some saleable copies of recordings "scrap" or damaged.

I've reported on these types of claims before. The Alman Brothers Band and Cheap Trick filed a highly publicized suit earlier this year for similar complaints related to sales of digital downloads.

We'll hope no one takes out a Revolver.
[via BBC]