Daryl Hall, one-half of the legendary music duo Hall & Oates, has recently filed a lawsuit against his longtime partner John Oates, claiming that Oates' plan to sell his share of their joint venture would violate their business agreement. The legal action has resulted in a temporary restraining order, issued by a Nashville chancery court judge, preventing the sale from proceeding until the arbitration process is completed.

The temporary restraining order, issued on November 16, states that Oates and those involved in his trust cannot proceed with the sale of their share of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC until an arbitrator weighs in on the deal or until the order expires within 15 days. The judge's order was issued on the same day that Hall filed the lawsuit, which was initially filed under seal, keeping most details hidden. However, a subsequent order allowed more filings to be made public, though specific information about their business agreement and the proposed sale remains undisclosed.

Hall's attorneys argued in favor of sealing certain filings, claiming that it is a private dispute with confidential information and involves a confidential arbitration process. While the publicly released version of the lawsuit does not specify the exact stakes involved in the sale, it is known that Primary Wave has already held a significant interest in Hall and Oates' song catalog for over 15 years. In a recent interview, Hall expressed disappointment with the sale of his back catalog, emphasizing the importance for artists to retain their publishing rights.

According to the lawsuit, Hall initiated an arbitration process on November 9 against Oates and the other defendants named in the lawsuit, including Oates' wife, Aimee Oates, and Richard Flynn, who serve as co-trustees of Oates' trust. Hall sought an order to prevent them from selling their portion of Whole Oats Enterprises to Primary Wave Music.

The lawsuit further alleges that Oates' team had entered into a letter of intent with Primary Wave Music for the sale, which supposedly disclosed the contents of the duo's business agreement in violation of a confidentiality provision.

The Associated Press reached out to attorneys representing both parties, as well as representatives for Primary Wave Music, for comment but received no immediate response. The details surrounding the dispute, including whether it specifically involves the music catalog of Hall & Oates, a soft-rock-and-pop duo renowned for hits like "Private Eyes," "Rich Girl," and "Maneater," remain unclear.

Daryl Hall and John Oates began their musical journey as Temple University students and signed with Atlantic Records in 1972. Throughout the decades, they have achieved six platinum albums and numerous top 10 singles, showcasing their unique approach to blue-eyed soul. In 2014, Hall & Oates were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and their most recent album, "Home for Christmas," was released in 2006. The duo continued to perform as of last year, and their songs continue to resonate with audiences around the world.

As the legal battle unfolds, the future of their joint venture remains uncertain, leaving fans and industry insiders eagerly awaiting further developments in this music partnership dispute.