The complaint
Ranphys Dario Ortiz de Leon and RR Entertainment Music Corp. v. Robert Dario Ortiz Lopez, No. 2:26-cv-12856-WJM-AME (D.N.J.), is a 19-page complaint filed September 30, 2026, ECF No. 1, with a jury demand. It describes RR Entertainment Music Corp. as a New Jersey corporation based in North Arlington, New Jersey, Ortiz de Leon as a New Jersey resident, and the defendant as a Kissimmee, Florida resident who says he is the personal representative of the singer's estate. The docket shows the case assigned to Judge William J. Martini and Magistrate Judge Andre M. Espinosa.
The dispute
The plaintiffs allege that in a February 25, 2008 Artist Contract signed in New Jersey, the Dominican recording artist known as Dhario Primero assigned to his son, Ortiz de Leon, the rights to his music, including original masters, and related visual and trademark rights, and that RR Entertainment was formed in 2024 to administer them. They allege the defendant, a half-sibling, claims the estate owns the copyrights and the DHARIO PRIMERO trademark, and they allege, on information and belief, that he was the actual filer of the trademark application and caused copyright registrations to be filed in the singer's name. They allege he filed claims before the Copyright Claims Board, from which they opted out, and a prior federal action that was dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The complaint's Local Civil Rule 11.2 certification identifies a related matter pending in the same court, No. 2:26-cv-05658-WJM-AME.
The takedown notices
The complaint alleges the defendant submitted infringement reports and takedown notices to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, and TuneCore, including notices to YouTube on or about September 15, 2025 and February 4, 2026 and a notice to Spotify on or about February 23, 2026. It alleges YouTube terminated RR Entertainment's account, the official Dhario Primero YouTube channel was removed, and the distributor TuneCore ended its services to the plaintiffs.
Counts and relief
Count I pleads tortious interference with contract and Count II tortious interference with prospective economic advantage. Counts III and IV plead defamation based on the reports to Spotify and TuneCore and to YouTube. Count V pleads knowing material misrepresentation in DMCA takedown notices under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f). Count VI, by Ortiz de Leon alone, pleads slander of title. The plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages; permanent injunctions barring the defendant from claiming the rights conveyed by the Artist Contract, filing false copyright claims or takedown notices about the works, and interfering with their business relationships; and fees, costs, and interest.
On the docket
A summons issued and the copyright report form was filed on October 2, 2026.