In a recent development in the ongoing feud between musical duo Hall & Oates, John Oates has filed a first-person declaration defending himself against accusations made by his longtime music partner, Daryl Hall. The declaration comes after Hall accused Oates of attempting to sell his portion of their music rights.

Court documents obtained by Billboard reveal that Oates, 75, disputes Hall's claims of him becoming "adversarial and aggressive" instead of maintaining a professional and courteous attitude. Oates asserts that over the past 50 years, he has consistently worked towards ensuring that the music and brand of Hall & Oates are perceived positively by both the public and the music industry.

While acknowledging that he and Hall have not always seen eye to eye, Oates states that he has presented opportunities for improving and protecting the business and artistic integrity of their partnership. However, he alleges that Hall has become unwilling to collaborate in efforts to safeguard their marks and intellectual property built over decades.

The conflict between the musicians came to light on November 16 when Hall, 77, and his organization, the Daryl Hall Revocable Trust, filed a lawsuit against Oates' trust, the John W. Oates TISA Trust, and its co-trustees in Nashville. Although the details of the lawsuit remain sealed, it is labeled as a "contract/debt" suit.

Adding to the tension, Oates obtained a temporary restraining order against Hall, effective from November 30. The feud intensified further when Hall filed additional documents on November 29, claiming that Oates had blindsided him with plans to sell his half of their company, Whole Oats Enterprises, LLP, to Primary Wave, a prominent music publishing company.

Hall expressed his frustration, citing the harm and difficulty caused by Oates' alleged bad faith conduct. He accused Oates of timing the sale to cause maximum damage, disrupting Hall's ongoing tour and necessitating unnecessary expenses. Hall called for Oates to be stopped from proceeding with the sale and argued that his behavior had become aggressive and adversarial.

Oates responded to Hall's allegations in a first-person declaration, expressing his desire to act truthfully and make decisions beneficial to himself, his family, and his artistic future. The declaration was in direct response to Hall's claims made on November 29.

During a court hearing in Davidson County Chancery Court on Thursday, lawyers representing both parties argued over Hall's request for an extended restraining order to prevent Oates from selling his stake in their work. The judge overseeing the case, Chancellor Russell Perkins, stated that he would make a ruling regarding the restraining order extension.

Hall and Oates, who met as undergraduates at Temple University in Philadelphia, formed their band in 1970. They achieved great success over the years, including six No. 1 hits such as "Maneater" and "Rich Girl." The duo was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

As the legal battle between Hall and Oates continues, fans of the iconic musical duo anxiously await a resolution to the feud that has divided them.