The Allman Brothers Band [ tickets ] will head to court next year to settle a royalty dispute with UMG Recordings, which acquired rights to the band's music when Capricorn Records filed for bankruptcy in 1979, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The band's current and former members--Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe and Dickey Betts--sued UMG in Aug. 2008, for allegedly refusing to grant the band members their fair share of fees that the label collects when it licenses the recordings to third parties like Apple's iTunes store, the WSJ reported.

A federal district judge ordered the band and the label to start gathering evidence for a jury trial early next year.

In a statement, band manger Bert Holman said, "UMG had nothing to do with the creation of these recordings, incurred no risk or cost and never had to spend a dime marketing them or promoting the band. It's outrageous that UMG refuses to honor its contract with the band and pay a fair share of the money it receives when it licenses the recordings ... and simply sits back and collects a fee."

The songs in question were recorded for Capricorn Records during the 1960s and 1970s. Polygram, UMG's predecessor, reportedly acquired the rights at an auction of Capricorn assets.