Missy Elliott Settles Long-Running Songwriting Credit Dispute Pre-Trial

Missy Elliott has reached a confidential settlement with producer Terry Williams just before a jury was set to be selected in a federal court in Pennsylvania, ending a nearly seven-year legal battle over songwriting credits. Williams claimed he co-wrote four songs on Elliott's 1994 album with her R&B group Sista, seeking recognition and royalties for his contributions, while Elliott denied ever meeting Williams before the album's release and contested his authorship claims. The dispute involved early work with producer Timbaland and centered on whether Williams had a legitimate claim to the songs. Judge Nitza Quiñones Alejandro had ruled that the conflicting accounts required a jury decision, but also dismissed Williams' claims related to a 1996 Aaliyah song due to the statute of limitations. Both parties declined to comment on the settlement terms, which will be outlined in a forthcoming court order. This resolution concludes litigation that had spanned multiple jurisdictions and included claims against other defendants.