Ananova:

A founding member of Fleetwood Mac is suing the BBC for millions over the release rights to recordings by rock bands including the Beatles and The Who.

Bee Load, jointly owned by Mick Fleetwood, claims BBC Worldwide reneged on a seven-year-old music licensing and distribution agreement.

The action in Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland, Maine, seeks millions of dollars in damages.

Judge Thomas Humphrey's ruling means the lawsuit - involving rare tapes of legendary performers like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Who - will be heard by a jury this year.

Bee Load is owned by Fleetwood and his accountant, Joseph McNulty. The company was established to produce and sell hundreds of hours of live performances through a contract with BBC Worldwide.

Bee Load claims that it had an agreement with BBC Worldwide to produce and market CDs culled from archive tapes, which include 14 hours of unreleased music by the Beatles.

Bee Load claims that BBC has released records without sharing the profits, in violation of the contract.

The case could go to trial in September, McDonald said.