Private investigators have recently delved into the intricacies of the legal conflict between iconic soft-rock duo Hall and Oates. Daryl Hall, 77, filed a lawsuit earlier this month against John Oates, 75, Oates' wife, and another trustee, alleging that Oates' plan to sell his share of their joint venture would violate their business agreement, as revealed in court documents.

The lawsuit, initially filed under seal on November 16, had obscured the details of the case until unsealed records shed light on the matter. Chancellor Russell Perkins, the Nashville judge overseeing the case, issued a temporary restraining order on Wednesday to halt the sale of Oates' portion of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave Music for 15 days or until an arbitrator makes a ruling.

Sources familiar with the situation claimed that the legal dispute revolves around "the ground rules of who can sing what as a solo artist, along with money issues of course," according to TMZ. Hall initially lodged the lawsuit after Oates performed solo shows in which he sang songs that Hall had taken credit for writing.

The unsealed filings showcased that Hall's lawyers contended that Oates and his team breached a confidentiality provision by disclosing their business arrangement in a letter of intent to Primary Wave, arguing that it should invalidate the sale. Hall asserted that the "entire Unauthorized Transaction is the product of an indisputable breach of contract."

Although some filings in the case were unsealed, they did not provide specific details regarding the stakes involved in the lawsuit. The court will hear the case on November 30 during a scheduled hearing.

The filings also revealed that Primary Wave has held a significant interest in Hall and Oates' catalog for over 15 years. The duo, famous for their yacht rock hits in the 70s and 80s such as "You Make My Dreams (Come True)" and "Rich Girl," have accumulated 18 albums, 16 top-10 hits, and 6 chart-topping singles according to Billboard. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

In a 2021 interview with Sky News, Hall expressed dissatisfaction with past arrangements, advising artists to retain their publishing rights, emphasizing their importance. He said, "all that you have is that."

Hall and Oates, who first met in Philadelphia during the late 60s while attending Temple University, resumed their touring in 2021 after it was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their touring plans had been put on hold due to the global health crisis.

Notably, in 2015, the duo collectively sued a Brooklyn-based food company over a granola snack named "Haulin' Oats".