Industry Sep 23, 2026
Songwriter Urges Supreme Court to Reject Music Publishers' Appeal on Termination Rights
When America’s Fifth Circuit Appeals Court backed a songwriter-friendly interpretation of the termination right in US copyright law, the majors bought the song that prompted that ruling and asked the
Originally published by
Complete Music Update
A songwriter has petitioned the US Supreme Court to refrain from intervening in a case concerning copyright termination rights, countering the music publishers' claims of a "copyright emergency." The dispute arose after the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court upheld a pro-songwriter interpretation of these rights, leading the major music publishers to acquire the relevant song and seek Supreme Court review.