The Legal Beat: Landmark Victory for Songwriters and More Music Law News
The U.S. Copyright Office has finalized a new rule that addresses the issue of streaming royalties and termination rights, which has been hailed as a “landmark victory” for songwriters. This new rule clarifies how streaming royalties are paid when songwriters reclaim their music rights under termination rights. The rule overturns a previous policy that critics warned could have kept streaming royalties flowing to companies that previously owned the rights. Artists like Don Henley, Sheryl Crow, and Sting were among those who pushed for this change.
In other news, a judge ruled in a legal battle over the Prince estate, deciding that two of Prince’s former business advisors could not be removed from their leadership roles by a group of heirs. Additionally, a band called Jellyroll dropped a trademark lawsuit against rapper Jelly Roll, citing an “amicable agreement” that was reached. Rapper Cardi B was sued for copyright infringement, while Sean “Diddy” Combs faced another sexual abuse case.
Furthermore, New Orleans rapper B.G. will be required to provide the U.S. Probation Office with the lyrics to his upcoming songs before producing and promoting them, following an 11-year prison sentence. Lastly, a federal appeals court overturned a jury verdict in a case involving guitar maker Gibson, stating that the trial judge had improperly excluded key evidence related to trademark protection.
Overall, it has been a busy week in the world of music law, with significant developments in copyright rules, legal battles, and trademark disputes. Stay tuned for more updates on The Legal Beat.
