The music world was shocked when half of the beloved duo Hall & Oates filed a confidential legal battle against the other, leaving fans to wonder what sort of rift or feud could be behind the litigation.

The mystery was, in part, solved after portions of the case were made public, revealing that Daryl Hall sued John Oates in a bid to block his long-time collaborator from selling off his share of their Whole Oats Enterprises to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC.

On Nov. 16, a Nashville chancery court judge issued a temporary restraining order, preventing Oates from moving forward with the sale until an arbitrator in a separately filed case weighs in on the deal, or until the judge’s order expires — typically within 15 days unless the deadline is extended.

Chancellor Russell Perkins issued the order the same day Hall filed his lawsuit, which was largely brought forth under seal. In it, lawyers noted Hall initiated an arbitration process on Nov. 9 with Oates and the other defendants in the lawsuit, Oates’ wife, Aimee Oates, and Richard Flynn, in their roles as co-trustees of Oates’ trust. Still, Hall feared Oates’ team would push the sale through regardless.

As Hall sought to block the deal, Oates’ team implied it could close within a matter of days — despite the fact that no arbitrator had yet been picked to untangle the disagreement, according to the suit. It further noted Oates’ team had already entered into a letter of intent with the investment firm, which allegedly detailed parts of the duo’s confidential joint business agreement.

“Thus, the entire Unauthorized Transaction is the product of an indisputable breach of contract,” the lawsuit states.

While what exactly is at stake in the sale remains unclear, Primary Wave already owns “significant interest” in Hall and Oates’ song catalog. In the past, Hall has expressed some regret over the sales of his music.

“Oh, in the early days, it got sold off for me and I didn’t get the money,” he told Sky News. In the same 2021 interview, he advised artists to retain their publishing rights, saying “all you have is that.”

Oates for his part has remained mum on the litigation. He made his first public comments since the filing on Thursday, but did not directly address his legal feud with Hall.

“During this time of communal reflection and connection with loved ones, let’s not forget those experiencing challenges globally,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “As we come together, consider reaching out to support those in need—whether through local charities or international humanitarian initiatives. May our collective efforts contribute to a more compassionate and supportive world.”

Hall and Oates first connected at Temple University as students before signing with Atlantic Records in 1972. Since then, they have released 18 studio albums, featuring six No. 1 singles, including “Maneater,” “Rich Girl” and “Out of Touch.” They’ve parted ways and reunited several times over their decades-long career, with both musicians touring separately this year.

The case will be taken up at a Nov. 30 court hearing.

With News Wire Services

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