Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
Unsettled Issues Are Raised By Bid to Terminate Copyright Grants in Village People Songs
To complement our recent article on the termination of rights under copyright in sound recordings (see, “Issues in Terminating Copyright Grants in Sound Recordings,” Entertainment Law & Finance, Dec. 2011, p.3, http://bit.ly/zfd5JA), we focus here on termination of rights under copyright in musical compositions ' and particularly on the pending lawsuit in California in which rights in some iconic songs made famous by the Village People are in dispute. Scorpio Music (Black Scorpio) S.A. v. Victor Willis, 3:11-CV- 01557 (S.D. Calif.). The songs include “YMCA” and “In the Navy,” which were co-authored by the group's lead singer Victor Willis. He maintains that the copyright termination statute should be interpreted literally, allowing him, as a co-author of a joint work that signed a separate grant, to terminate rights to his own contribution without having a majority of co-authors terminate all rights. Two music publishers maintain that this result would contravene the spirit of the law.
Statutory Termination Provisions
This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only
ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW.
- Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
- Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
- Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts
Already a have an account? Sign In Now Log In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough
There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.
Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office
A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.
Bit Parts
Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights
Risks of “Baseball Arbitration” in Resolving Real Estate Disputes
“Baseball arbitration” refers to the process used in Major League Baseball in which if an eligible player's representative and the club ownership cannot reach a compensation agreement through negotiation, each party enters a final submission and during a formal hearing each side — player and management — presents its case and then the designated panel of arbitrators chooses one of the salary bids with no other result being allowed. This method has become increasingly popular even beyond the sport of baseball.
One Overlooked Element of Executive Safety: Data Privacy
Executives have access to some of the company's most sensitive information, and they're increasingly being targeted by hackers looking to steal company secrets or to perpetrate cybercrimes.