The U.K.'s Guardian Unlimited is reporting that the high court has put the kibosh on a proposed Jimi Hendrix biopic after it ruled that its U.S. filmmakers had no rights to the legendary guitarist's music or likeness.

Director John Hillman was told he would have to seek permission from the Experience Hendrix company, run by the late performer's daughter Janie.

The move is a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the Los Angeles and New York-based Dragonslayer Films, which issued a flurry of press releases last month claiming to have secured the rights.

Dragonslayer further fanned the flames of publicity when it announced Quentin Tarantino was all set to direct — an assertion swiftly denied by Tarantino.

Experience Hendrix issued a defiant statement after the case. Janie Hendrix said: "We will certainly rely on this judgment in protecting our rights against any other parties who make unauthorised use of Hendrix songs and recordings under the guise of the Hillman claim."

According to Variety, Experience Hendrix was also granted an injunction blocking Purple Haze Records from distributing unauthorized recordings from the master.