• The New York Times, Friday, September 14, 2007 11:45 AM

Verizon Wireless, which had stopped selling most Bob Marley ringtone files because of a licensing dispute between the estate of the reggae singer and the Universal Music Group, says it plans to resume sales after a harsh statement from the family.

Universal, a subsidiary of Vivendi, owns the rights to Marley's music. Last month, Verizon struck a deal with it to become the exclusive provider of ring tones from the catalog. Marley's family objected to the deal--calling it tantamount to an endorsement--and threatened to sue.

The family yesterday said that it would not follow through with a suit for trademark infringement because Verizon had "ceded" to its demands and taken most of the 44 ring tones by the singer off its Web site. But a longtime spokesman for the family also said that he was "infuriated that Verizon would go around the estate." Angered by that slam, a Verizon spokesman said, "we'll be putting that content back up tomorrow." The Marley family spokesman responded that the suit was back on.

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