Sony Loses Attorney Fee Award in Song Contest Copyright Dispute

Sony Corporation of America is on the hook for its own legal expenses in a copyright dispute over a song contest for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Sony’s success in getting the case shifted to mandatory arbitration didn’t make it a prevailing party, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled May 4. A court can award legal expenses to a prevailing party under Section 505 of the Copyright Act.

Compelling arbitration doesn’t materially change the parties’ legal relationship under copyright law, the court said, so Sony did not prevail.

The plaintiff, Luis Adrian Cortes-Ramos, submitted a song ...