"As digital downloads have emerged as the primary method by which many consumers acquire music, UMG has systematically failed to pay appropriate royalties to musicians for these downloads," argued James Pizzirusso, a partner at Hausfeld LLP, the firm handling the lawsuit for Chuck D (real name Carlton Douglas Ridenhour).

The exact amount of potential damages will be determined at trial but, if Chuck D's attorneys have their way, the move could trigger a slew of other artists to take similar ...