Bloomberg Law
Feb. 6, 2019, 5:27 PM UTC

Musicians Attack Sony’s Refusal of Copyright Termination Rights (1)

Kyle Jahner
Kyle Jahner
IP Reporter

Sony Music Entertainment Inc.'s refusal to let musicians reclaim copyright ownership under the Copyright Act is “lawless behavior,” a trio of musicians said in a putative class action lawsuit.

Named plaintiffs David Johansen, a.k.a. Buster Poindexter, John Lyon, a.k.a. Southside Johnny, and Paul Collins say Sony routinely labels artists’ music as “work made for hire,” effectively blocking music creators from a legal right to rescind their decision to sign over the rights to their work 35 years after publication.

Their complaint, filed Feb. 5 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, could clarify the definition of ...

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