AceShowbiz - Hip-hop star Rick Ross has reportedly won the first stage of his legal battle against drugs king Ricky Ross - the former convict's injunction against the rapper has been "tossed out" by a judge. The rapper, real name William Leonard Roberts II, has been accused of adopting his stage name from the former cocaine trafficker, who became infamous for running a drug empire in Los Angeles in the 1980s.

Ross warned Roberts he would face a court battle if he did not change his moniker before the release of his upcoming album, "Teflon Don", and the ex-convict kept his word when his legal team filed a trademark infringement lawsuit last month in the California U.S. District Court. Ross was expected to summon rap legend Jay-Z to testify in the case as the "99 Problems hitmaker" was the boss of Def Jam records when Roberts was signed to the label in 2006.

But Roberts has reportedly received the green light to go ahead with the release of his album later this month, advising followers on his Twitter account that an injunction request to halt the record has been denied. He writes on his page, "Just got update on lawsuit filed against me... injunction to stop release of my album has been denied!! aka tossed out!!... Teflon don july20..."