US Supreme Court upholds music copyright termination ruling

The US Supreme Court has declined to overturn a landmark ruling regarding music copyright termination, a decision that could significantly impact how creators reclaim rights to their works globally.

The case originated from a dispute involving songwriter Cyril Vetter and the 1962 rock hit “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love).” A lower court, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, ruled that US copyright termination laws—which allow artists to reclaim rights after several decades—apply to overseas rights as well as domestic ones.

Major music labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Warner Music Group, and BMG, appealed the decision, arguing that extending these termination rights globally would cause “chaos” and threaten industry agreements worth billions of dollars.

In a rare maneuver, the Supreme Court justices stated the case could not be resolved in the coming term, effectively upholding the lower court's decision for now. However, the ruling does not establish a national precedent, meaning other appellate courts in jurisdictions such as New York or Los Angeles could still rule differently, potentially leading to a circuit split and future Supreme Court review.