Diddy settles book lawsuit

Music

09:30 14 July 2005

P. Diddy has settled a lawsuit with publishers Random House over an alleged unreturned $300,000 advance he accepted for his unwritten autobiography.

The publishing giants filed legal papers at New York's Supreme Court against the rapper - real name Sean Combs - in February, claiming he "simply kept money he never rightly earned".

In court papers filed at the time, the company said: "Sean Combs signed an agreement in 1998 to write his autobiography, which he agreed to complete and deliver to us in 1999. We now have waited for over five years and have received neither the manuscript nor the return of the money we advanced Mr. Combs."

The company had demanded a full refund of the advance, which they originally paid in 1998, plus interest and legal fees from the music mogul.

However, in a statement released by Random House spokesman Stuart Applebaum yesterday (12.07.05) the company claim the matter has now been "amicably resolved".

Applebaum refused to reveal details of the settlement, but did reveal the publishers would not be releasing a book written by the hip-hop star.

Diddy's spokesman has so far refused to comment on the settlement.

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