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Legal battle for Steely Dan name looms

Within days the death of Walter Becker (story), his estate sent a letter to his Steely Dan band mate, Donald Fagen, notifying him that the estate considers an agreement Becker and Fagen entered into that would award the share of whichever member left the group or died to the remaining members invalid.  In addition to the 50% ownership of the name, the notification included the contention that Becker's widow should get an official status as an officer or director.  Neither notion sits well with Fagen. He has initiated a suit against the estate in an effort to gain full control of the Steely Dan name - and tacked on a claim for more than $1 million in damages.  Fagen's suit contends that as recently as 2009 Walter Becker confirmed himself as in accord with the agreement the two drew-up in 1972.

NYTimes.com