MIAMI – A feud has erupted within the first family of reggae, with the widow and nine children of Bob Marley suing his half brother to stop use of the Marley name to promote an annual Miami music festival and profit from other businesses in his native Jamaica.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court contends the half brother, businessman Richard Booker, and several affiliated companies are violating copyright and trademark laws by using Marley’s name, photographs, lyrics, symbols and other intellectual property without authorization.

Additional Photos

Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley performs in Paris in 1980. His widow and nine children are suing his half brother to stop use of the Marley name. The Associated Press

Billy Graham

The lawsuit says people could be deceived into thinking those uses are officially endorsed by Marley’s widow, Rita Marley, and their children. Booker and Bob Marley shared the same mother.

The entities include the Bob Marley Movement of Jah People Inc., which promotes the music festival, a restaurant in Jamaica called Mama Marley’s and several businesses with the name Nine Mile — the part of Jamaica where Marley grew up and is now buried. One Nine Mile business offers a tour of the area, and the music event is known as the Nine Mile Music Festival.

A recent news release about the music festival included this headline: “All For The Love Of Bob Marley.” The 19th annual festival is scheduled for March 2012 on Virginia Key, near Miami. Three of Marley’s kids — Stephen, Damien and Julian Marley — are scheduled to perform.

Marley, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died of cancer in 1981 at age 36. Some of his best-known songs are “I Shot The Sheriff,” “Jamming,” “No Woman, No Cry,” “Get Up, Stand Up” and “Exodus.”

The lawsuit, filed by Fort Lauderdale attorney Bruce Hemerlee, seeks unspecified damages and also asks a judge to stop Booker and the companies from using any Marley-related references.

Billy Graham gets up and around

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Evangelist Billy Graham remains in a North Carolina hospital with pneumonia, but doctors say he’s been able to get up and walk around.

A statement from Mission Hospital in Asheville said the 93-year-old Christian leader was able to stand and walk Friday during a physical therapy session.

Dr. Mark Hellreich, a pulmonologist treating Graham, said he’s making good clinical progress and looks better since treatment with antibiotics began.

Graham has suffered from several ailments in recent years. He was admitted to the hospital Wednesday night after suffering from congestion, a cough and a slight fever that was later diagnosed as pneumonia.

No discharge date has been set.

Lynch to fund meditation for soldiers, vets

LOS ANGELES – David Lynch wants soldiers and veterans to experience the stress-reducing benefits of Transcendental Meditation.

Lynch’s namesake foundation is giving $1 million in grants to teach the meditation technique to active-duty military personnel and veterans and their families suffering from post-traumatic stress.

The filmmaker said Friday that the grants are from the Operation Warrior Wellness division of his foundation, which funds meditation instruction for various populations, including inner-city students and jail inmates.

Recipients of Operation Warrior Wellness grants include Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Wounded Warrior Project and UCLA’s Operation Mend.

Jackson doctor to appeal case

LOS ANGELES – The doctor sentenced to four years behind bars for causing Michael Jackson’s death has filed a notice that he intends to appeal the conviction.

Conrad Murray signed a one-page document that was filed in Los Angeles on Friday seeking all records and transcripts from the case. The filing does not indicate the basis on which Murray will argue to overturn his conviction or sentence.

Murray was sentenced Tuesday to four years in jail.

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