Universal Music Further Refutes Salt-N-Pepa’s Arguments in Appeals Court, as Group Seeks to Have Dismissal of Battle for Masters Overturned

Universal Music Further Refutes Salt-N-Pepa’s Arguments in Appeals Court, as Group Seeks to Have Dismissal of Battle for Masters Overturned

Groundbreaking hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa’s further pursuit of the copyrights to its first four albums continues to receive vigorous pushback from Universal Music Group, with the company filing a new brief as the case winds its way through an appeals court. Last May, Salt-N-Pepa filed suit against the dominant record company over its rejection of a 2022 copyright notice from the group, who were seeking to reclaim ownership of their enormously s…

Salt-N-Pepa’s Music Ownership Appeal Has a ‘Foundational Deficiency,’ UMG Argues

Universal Music Group (UMG) is continuing to fight Salt-N-Pepa’s attempt to claw back ownership of the duo’s master recordings, arguing in a new appellate filing that copyright law’s termination right is not absolute. The world’s largest music company submitted a brief on Tuesday (May 5) urging the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to reject the challenge lodged by Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton. The rappers sued UMG last year for …

Universal says “general intent” of Congress has no relevance to Salt N Pepa termination rights battle

Universal Music says that the “general intent” of US lawmakers when they introduced the current termination right in American copyright law 50 years ago - which was to provide extra protections for creators - is not relevant in its ongoing legal bust-up with Salt N Pepa. The rappers, and their supporters, insist that that core objective of US Congress when passing the 1976 Copyright Act is incredibly important, and - if a January decision by Jud…

UMG tells appeals court Salt-N-Pepa termination bid lacks legal foundation

UMG argued that the termination provision "also places important limitations on when and how the right may be exercised.” Source