![\"Entertainment](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmusicnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Salt-N-Pepa-1024x546.jpg\" "\\"Entertainment\\"")
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Universal Music Group is firing back against the copyright-recapture lawsuit filed by Salt-N-Pepa. Photo Credit: David Burke<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Entertainment Let the copyright-recapture battle intensify: Universal Music is firing back against Salt-N-Pepa\u2019s newly submitted lawsuit. Meanwhile, the hip-hop group has redacted sensitive details from its action. <\/strong><\/h2>\nWe broke down<\/a> the straightforward-enough suit at length moments after its filing. Long story short, Section 203 of the Copyright Act is said to allow certain entertainment professionals (not solely musicians) to terminate copyright transfers executed under non-work-for-hire agreements more than 35 years ago.<\/p>\nTranslation: Some legacy acts (and a few actors) are moving to assume ownership of IP covered by decades-old agreements. Unsurprisingly, the increasingly common step<\/a> isn\u2019t sitting right with the majors and others<\/a>, which have opposed the maneuver in no uncertain terms.<\/p>\n(Nevertheless, the likes of Dwight Yoakam<\/a> and Southside Johnny<\/a> have quietly settled recapture complaints levied against the majors.)<\/p>\nReturning to Salt-N-Pepa\u2019s allegations, the original action, we previously noted, features as exhibits copies of the relevant agreements as well as related communications with Universal Music execs. <\/strong><\/h4>\nUMG brass in one such letter seemingly argued that Salt-N-Pepa\u2019s sought terminations were both time-barred and invalid because members Cheryl James and Sandra Denton hadn\u2019t themselves transferred the copyrights under the appropriate contracts.<\/p>\n
Another document, dated July 2024, looks to outline terms under which Universal Music would continue exploiting the contested works while the recapture showdown unfolded. Last month, push evidently came to shove, and UMG when replying to another recapture letter said it\u2019d halted \u201call U.S. exploitation of the\u201d recordings at issue.<\/p>\n
Bearing these points in mind, the major in responding to the action described the complaint\u2019s exhibits as indicative of \u201crepeated attempts to resolve this matter amicably.\u201d<\/h4>\n
\u201cAs indicated by Salt-N-Pepa\u2019s own legal filings,\u201d a UMG spokesperson told DMN, \u201cUniversal Music Group has made repeated attempts to resolve this matter amicably, including offers to enter into a mediation, ever since the artists served an invalid termination notice.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough we had no legal obligation to do so, we still sought to find a way to improve the artists\u2019 compensation and pay them directly, even after they had sold their royalty streams to a third party.<\/p>\n
\u201cClearly, the artists\u2019 legal counsel thinks they can use the threat of negative media coverage to achieve their unreasonable demands. Despite this, and consistent with our longstanding practice, we remain committed to working towards an amicable resolution,\u201d the rep concluded.<\/p>\n
Time will, of course, tell whether that amicable resolution materializes. Closer to the present, the presiding judge has now granted Salt-N-Pepa counsel\u2019s mentioned redaction request.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, evidence suggests that the approval is too little, too late; the green-lit redactions seemingly pertain to Social Security numbers that the original complaint already revealed in full.<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\n
Translation: Some legacy acts (and a few actors) are moving to assume ownership of IP covered by decades-old agreements. Unsurprisingly, the increasingly common step<\/a> isn\u2019t sitting right with the majors and others<\/a>, which have opposed the maneuver in no uncertain terms.<\/p>\n (Nevertheless, the likes of Dwight Yoakam<\/a> and Southside Johnny<\/a> have quietly settled recapture complaints levied against the majors.)<\/p>\n UMG brass in one such letter seemingly argued that Salt-N-Pepa\u2019s sought terminations were both time-barred and invalid because members Cheryl James and Sandra Denton hadn\u2019t themselves transferred the copyrights under the appropriate contracts.<\/p>\n Another document, dated July 2024, looks to outline terms under which Universal Music would continue exploiting the contested works while the recapture showdown unfolded. Last month, push evidently came to shove, and UMG when replying to another recapture letter said it\u2019d halted \u201call U.S. exploitation of the\u201d recordings at issue.<\/p>\n \u201cAs indicated by Salt-N-Pepa\u2019s own legal filings,\u201d a UMG spokesperson told DMN, \u201cUniversal Music Group has made repeated attempts to resolve this matter amicably, including offers to enter into a mediation, ever since the artists served an invalid termination notice.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough we had no legal obligation to do so, we still sought to find a way to improve the artists\u2019 compensation and pay them directly, even after they had sold their royalty streams to a third party.<\/p>\n \u201cClearly, the artists\u2019 legal counsel thinks they can use the threat of negative media coverage to achieve their unreasonable demands. Despite this, and consistent with our longstanding practice, we remain committed to working towards an amicable resolution,\u201d the rep concluded.<\/p>\n Time will, of course, tell whether that amicable resolution materializes. Closer to the present, the presiding judge has now granted Salt-N-Pepa counsel\u2019s mentioned redaction request.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, evidence suggests that the approval is too little, too late; the green-lit redactions seemingly pertain to Social Security numbers that the original complaint already revealed in full.<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\nReturning to Salt-N-Pepa\u2019s allegations, the original action, we previously noted, features as exhibits copies of the relevant agreements as well as related communications with Universal Music execs. <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Bearing these points in mind, the major in responding to the action described the complaint\u2019s exhibits as indicative of \u201crepeated attempts to resolve this matter amicably.\u201d<\/h4>\n