Ronald Isley and the estate of his late brother Rudolph have settled a long-running dispute over the legal rights to use “The Isley Brothers” name, ending a federal lawsuit begun in 2023. The agreement matters because control of a well-known band name can affect touring, merchandise and other commercial activity, though the settlement’s terms have not been disclosed.

Rudolph had alleged that he and Ronald jointly owned the group’s intellectual property after their brother O’Kelly died in 1986, and that Ronald was attempting to secure the trademark alone. Ronald argued that Rudolph had not performed with the group since 1989, but a judge allowed the case to proceed after finding that Rudolph’s claimed managerial work could support co-ownership; Rudolph died aged 84 in 2023, and the parties formally asked for the case to be dismissed after reaching a tentative deal in February.