Smokey Robinson's ex-wife Claudette Robinson has filed a countersuit against her former husband, claiming that she is due 50 percent of the royalties of songs Smokey wrote while she was married to him.

The countersuit was filed after Smokey filed a peremptory suit to negate claims Claudette might have made in connection with the Copyright Act of 1976. The law has a clause coming which will allow artists to regain the rights to their older songs given up early on in their careers.

Claudette wants 50 percent of whatever Smokey might get, while adding that he has "breached fiduciary duty, committed constructive fraud and anticipatorily breached the terms of a 1989 stipulated judgment made three years after their divorce,".

In addition to Smokey, several artists including Bob Dylan and Tom Waits are attempting to take advantage of the termination provision.