MIAMI (AP) — The half-brother of reggae legend Bob Marley says he will fight a lawsuit seeking to stop him from using Marley’s name and image to promote a Miami music festival and other businesses.

Richard Booker said in a statement Thursday that an internal family dispute should not have escalated into a legal battle. The lawsuit was filed by Marley’s widow and nine of his children.

Booker says he and his mother, who was also Marley’s mother, were partners in many of the ventures before she died. The 19th annual music festival is set for March, with three of Marley’s sons to perform. Booker says it’s unclear to him why the family is suing now.

The lawsuit says the Marley family and Booker have negotiated without success to reach a licensing agreement.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.