Joe Exotic fights for music rights in Pensacola amid protest outside courthouse

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Joe Exotic's time in Florida is coming to a close.

The star of the Netflix series "Tiger King" was at the federal courthouse in Pensacola on Tuesday for a copyright infringement case he filed against a songwriter.

Joe Maldonado-Passage as he's legally known has been housed at the Santa Rosa County Jail for the last month.

He's currently serving a 21-year federal prison sentence in Fort Worth, Texas for attempted murder for hire and several counts of animal abuse.

Protestors gathered outside the courthouse on Tuesday on behalf of Joe Exotic, but not all were in support of the famous personality.

Protestors lined up for hours outside the federal courthouse holding signs and chanting "Free Joe Exotic," except Tuesday's hearing wasn't centered around his conviction for attempted murder for hire. It's a copyright case he filed.

And the counter-protestors WEAR News met on Tuesday say most people don't know Joe Exotic like they do.

There were signs, shirts and even socks expressing support for Joe Exotic outside the federal courthouse in Pensacola.

Despite currently serving a 21-year sentence for attempted murder, it's a copyright infringement case that brings the Netflix star to Florida.

Exotic is accusing Florida songwriter Vince Johnson of releasing music performed by Exotic without authorization, alleging Johnson signed away rights to the songs he wrote.

The lawsuit is asking for the rights of the song to be restored, as well as asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

WEAR News spoke on Tuesday with Exotic's manager, JT Barnett, who says it's hard to dispute the facts.

"When he was incarcerated and locked up, they came out and claimed credit for all the music, got a big advance and shafted joe like everyone else has seemed to," Barnett said. "I would think the judge will look at it and being aware of Joe's case and all of the people who've stolen his ideas, I think it's gonna go good today."

While WEAR News witnessed dozens protesting on behalf of the Netflix star, the line of solidarity ended with these two.

"People wanting to free this guy they don't even know about," Danny Maldonado said. "They think they do because the Netflix series."

Maldonado is the father of Travis Maldonado -- the deceased husband of Joe Exotic, whose legal last name is Maldonado-Passage, honoring his late husband.

Travis died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Joe Exotic's animal park in 2017.

"He's guilty for what he did," Maldonado said. "Plain and simple. There's a court of law that says that too. I always told my kids I'd back them. No matter what they want to do in life. So I gave him my blessing, and this is how it ends up. Quit lying Joe, quit misleading people on how precious you are because you're not a precious person, that's what I would say to him."