Universal has called Courtney Love's claims against record labels "a lot of fluff," but a Los Angeles judge isn't convinced.

In an apparent breakthrough for the Hole singer, Judge Fumiko Wasserman has allowed Love to proceed to trial with most of the claims in her contract termination suit against the label conglomerate. Love is seeking to nix Hole's deal.

Wasserman had ruled in June that Love could proceed with only four of her 15 arguments against Vivendi Universal, though she permitted the singer to revise several of the rejected claims for reconsideration. In a September 26 ruling, Wasserman approved six of the amended claims, including Love's challenge of an amendment that exempts recording artists from California labor laws pertaining to entertainers.

Though Love could have gone to trial with the four initial claims, the new ruling gives her more to stand on. Should she prevail, the case could prove pivotal in freeing artists from long-term contracts.

"No artist has ever gone this far before, and this is definitely the most serious case major record labels have faced in court," James Barber, Love's manager, said Wednesday (October 3).

A spokesperson for Universal declined to comment. Universal attorney Russell J. Frackman said at a hearing last month that Love's claims are "a lot of fluff" (see "Courtney Love Continues To Pursue Geffen In Court").

The battle began last year when Universal sued Love for trying to back out of her contract and failing to deliver the five Hole albums owed to the label. Love filed her cross complaint early this year, claiming that labels force artists to sign unfair contracts and swindle them out of royalties.

She also claims that Geffen Records failed to market Celebrity Skin and wrongfully assigned the band to another company by merging into Universal.

On Friday, Love filed another suit against Vivendi Universal for control over Nirvana's masters ("Courtney Love Sues For Control Of Nirvana's Master Recordings").