Ibrahim Ferrer shot to fame with the Buena Vista Social Club

The case involving rival publishing companies over the music made famous by the Buena Vista Social Club album, is being heard by Mr Justice Lindsay.

The case, which started earlier this month, came to a halt when video links of the Cuban witnesses were no use.

Mr Justice Lindsay ruled he could hear the witnesses in Havana instead of London, if the Cuban Government agreed.

Music copyright

But Peter Prescott QC, who is representing the state-owned Cuban company, Editora Musical de Cuba (EMC), said consent would be "readily forthcoming".

There had been a huge resurgence of interest in Cuban music since the Buena Vista album in 1997 and the film of the same name.

US company Peer International Corporation is embroiled in a row with EMC over who owns the rights to the music.

Peer has claimed that its copyright on songs dating back to the 1930s has been unlawfully taken over by the Cuban government.

Pushpinder Saini, representing Peer, said the company was suing Termidor Music Publishers, which claims exclusive rights through EMC, because it sought to register itself as owning the copyrights of the songs in the UK.

'Full benefit'

Mr Prescott said that Peer's claims to the music of more than 600 Cuban composers were all invalid - and that the composers involved received "practically nothing".

Mr Justice Lindsay made his ruling to travel to Cuba after the case was halted just six days into the hearing.

In his ruling on Wednesday, Mr Justice Lindsay said: "It is, in my judgment, expedient in the course of justice firstly that there should be examinations by a special examiner in Cuba.

"Secondly, as the full benefit of someone seeing and hearing the witnesses give evidence can be obtained only if the special examiner is also the judge hearing the action, that I should be that special examiner."

The judge said he intended to go to Cuba in September.