In the opening paragraph of Flo & Eddie v. Sirius XM Radio, No. 17-55844, decided Aug. 23, 2021, the Ninth Circuit aptly described the "patchwork quilt of federal and state copyright laws" governing pre-1972 sound recordings as a "ball of confusion," borrowing the title of a classic 1970 Temptations record.
Ninth Circuit Finally Resolves Pre-1972 Sound Recordings Royalties Issue
The Ninth Circuit ruling in Flo & Eddie may turn out to be last stop on the long and winding road the owners of pre-1972 recordings have traveled in their efforts to obtain compensation for public performances through platforms like Sirius.

This premium content is locked for The Intellectual Property Strategist subscribers only
ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN The Intellectual Property Strategist
- 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 have an account? Sign In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or call 1-877-256-2473.






