*Salt-N-Pepa are taking their battle with Common Music Group to the subsequent degree. The duo has formally appealed a federal decide’s choice that dismissed their lawsuit in search of management of their grasp recordings.
In keeping with Music Enterprise Worldwide, the discover of enchantment was filed on February 4 and entered into the USA Courtroom of Appeals for the Second Circuit docket the next day. It challenges a January 8 ruling by District Decide Denise Cote, who decided that the artists by no means owned the copyrights to their sound recordings and due to this fact can not reclaim them below Part 203 of the Copyright Act.
Part 203 permits artists to terminate copyright transfers 35 years after the unique grant, however provided that they executed the switch themselves. Salt-N-Pepa, comprised of Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, filed termination notices in 2022 and sued UMG in Could 2024 . Nonetheless, the court docket discovered that the 1986 settlement granted possession to Noise In The Attic Productions, managed by producer Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor, which then transferred rights to Subsequent Plateau Information, a predecessor to UMG.
In her ruling, Decide Cote wrote: “The one copyright switch effectuated by these agreements was the one from NITA to Subsequent Plateau Information. And the statutory textual content in Part 203 is obvious: plaintiffs can solely terminate copyright transfers that they executed. They can not terminate a copyright grant executed by NITA. In consequence, plaintiffs don’t plausibly allege a declare for declaratory aid.”
The court docket additionally rejected the duo’s conversion declare, concluding they by no means owned the grasp tapes. A spokesperson for UMG stated the corporate is “gratified that the court docket dismissed this baseless lawsuit,” including that it stays “open and keen to discover a decision to the matter.”
The enchantment submitting additionally reveals that Nashville-based lawyer Richard S. Busch of King & Ballow is now representing the duo. Busch is extensively identified for representing the Marvin Gaye heirs within the high-profile “Blurred Traces” copyright case involving Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke.
Salt-N-Pepa’s early catalog stays unavailable on U.S. streaming platforms, following the label’s rejection of their termination notices and subsequent elimination of recordings. Regardless of the setback, the group — inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame in November 2025 — is continuous its authorized effort to regain management of its work.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Salt-N-Pepa Lose Grasp Recordings Lawsuit In opposition to UMG
Join our Free every day e-newsletter HERE.
