The Doors legal drama nears its end

The Doors' ongoing legal dispute looks like it is poised to come to an end, now that the California Supreme Court has refused to let it go further.

Keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger will likely have to pay more than $5 million to drummer John Densmore and singer Jim Morrison's parents for allegedly using The Doors' name without proper permission during their 2003 tour with Ian Astbury of The Cult as lead singer.

"You can't call yourselves The Doors because you can't have The Doors without Jim Morrison," stated Densmore's attorney.

Manzarek and Krieger appealed a court's 2005 decision ordering the new band to stop using "The Doors" in any form and to pay the parents $3.2 million, plus $2 million in legal costs. An appeals court upheld the decision, and the Supreme Court has now refused to hear their claim that the $2 million in legal fees is excessive, reports the Associated Press.

The basis of the dispute is a 1970 agreement signed by the four original band members, including Morrison, stating that all four members would have to agree to any business deals.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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