An Enfield-based music mogul is this week hoping to emerge victorious from a two-year legal battle with American rock star Bruce Springsteen.

Ron Winter is a director of Masquerade Music which is fighting Springsteen's High Court bid to stop him releasing a CD of his early work.

Springsteen, nicknamed the Boss, claims he owns the rights to the 32 tracks, which he wrote and recorded in 1972.

The musician, famous for hits such as Born in the USA and Dancing in the Dark, flew to London last week to put his case to a High Court hearing.

But Mr Winter from western Enfield has 28 years music business experience and is confident his company's deal with the singer's former co-manager is watertight.

He told the Independent: "I'll be pleased to see some kind of decision on this, but we wouldn't have gone as far with it if we weren't sure we own the rights."

Mr Winter, who also manages British singer Elkie Brooks, said he had received an "avalanche of writs" from Springsteen since the wrangle started in 1996.

After learning of the material's existence Mr Winter tracked down the tapes, which were under the control of Jim Cretocos, in America.

Along with Mike Appel, Cretocos jointly managed the then little-known Springsteen in the early 1970s.

"Contrary to what has been reported it is not rough, primitive material," explained Mr Winter.

"They are solid studio tracks, obviously early work, but quality recordings."

A team of experts on both sides of the Atlantic checked the material's copyright and ownership status before giving the all clear.

Mr Winter, who formally owned the K-Tel record label, then paid an undisclosed sum to two US firms for the right to release the songs on the Masquerade Music label.

The main thrust of Springsteen's case is an agreement giving the singer control of his own work following an acrimonious split with Apell in the 1970s.

But Mr Winter claims it does not cover any separate deals with Cretocos, who had split with both Springsteen and Appel some years before.

Masquerade Music put the release on hold and challenged Springsteen to start High Court proceedings in a bid to break the deadlock.

"I said to his advisers if you come up with documents that prove you own the rights I will stop the project, write off the costs, and walk away."

Ironically 13 of the tracks have already been released in America by another label, but US copyright laws make a legal challenge more difficult.

Springsteen may use any British court ruling in his favour as a platform to launch a similar action in America.

Masquerade Music specialises in finding rare recordings from famous artists and has released albums of early material by Jon Bon Jovi and Marc Bolan.

The company has a binding agreement with Springsteen that he will pay its costs should he lose the case.

Witnesses for both sides have given evidence at the hearing and a judge's decision is expected this week.

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