Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group are going through new class-action copyright infringement lawsuits filed by artists searching for possession of their music, Music Business Worldwide reports. The lawsuits in opposition to the 2 labels—considered by Pitchfork—had been filed on February 5 by the New York Dolls’ David Johansen, John Waite, Southside Johnny, the Nerves’ Paul Collins, and Joe Ely.
The lawsuits cite Section 203 of the Copyright Act of 1976, which supplies recording artists the chance to terminate grants of copyright possession 35 years after a recording’s preliminary launch. The lawsuits state:
But whereas the Copyright Act confers upon authors the dear “second chance” that they so typically want, the authors of sound recordings, particularly, who’ve tried to avail themselves of this vital safety have encountered not solely resistance from many file labels, they’ve been subjected to the cussed and unfounded disregard of their rights underneath the regulation and, in lots of situations, willful copyright infringement.
The class motion lawsuits assert that lots of of musicians have served Notices of Termination to Sony and Universal whereas the labels have “routinely and systematically refused to honor them.” They search damages for copyright infringement and declaratory aid.
“This behavior must stop,” lawyer Evan S. Cohen mentioned in an announcement. “The legal issues in these class action suits have never been decided by a court, and are of paramount importance to the music industry.”
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