I Want My Copyright Back
Trying to reverse actions from decades ago when one's career was in a much different place can be cumbersome in the legal world of copyright. Just ask John Waite, Joe Ely, Syd Straw, and others who have filed suit against UMG Recordings, Inc. in the Southern District of New York and requested certification of their suit as a class action. All such plaintiffs had recording contracts with companies who are predecessors in interest to UMG and assigned sound recording copyrights to the respective companies. Section 203 of the Copyright Act of 1976 sets forth conditions for termination of a transfer, license, or grant of copyright. Such termination may occur during a period of five years beginning at the end of thirty-five years from the date of execution of the transfer unless the transfer covers the right of publication of the work. In the latter case, the termination period begins at the end of thirty-five years from the date of publication of the work or the end of forty years ...