MUMBAI: Peter Frampton has sued Universal Music Group-owned A&M Records for unpaid digital royalties.

According to reports, the singer-songwriter has filed a lawsuit against his former label in Los Angeles, for breach of contract and unfair competition... in the belief that his digital sales profits have not been fairly distributed.

At the center of the lawsuit is the way royalties are calculated for digital goods. Frampton's complaint argues Universal should have paid 50 percent of net receipts, which is typical when music is licensed. But record labels tend to treat digital sales like physical sales, which have a much lower royalty rate.

Frampton is seeking damages and has hired music attorney Richard Busch, a partner with King & Ballow. Busch was the attorney behind similar suits brought against major labels by Eminem and The Knack's Bruce Gary.