SCL Joins Praise of USCO for Recognition of Termination Rights

The Society of Composers & Lyricists, along with Songwriters Guild of America and Music Creators North America has written to the US Senate and House Judiciary Committees commending the US Copyright Office’s recognition of the right to terminate copyright grants, including transfers and licenses, subject to certain exceptions.

This recognition comes after the MLC adopted a termination dispute policy based on an erroneous interpretation of the exceptions that resulted in overpayments to pre-termination copyright owners and underpayments to music recreators.

 We are gratified that in its comments and final rule regarding the issue of the MLC and Termination Rights, the US Copyright Office repeatedly recognized that the right of termination is a core principle of fairness under the US Copyright Act. Those hard-won rights codified in the 1976 Copyright Act through the efforts of SGA, SCL, MNCA and our fellow author advocacy organizations were designed for one simple purpose– to protect creators from permanent and often predatory exploitation. 

Statement from Rick Carnes (SGA) and Ashley Irwin (SCL)

Songwriters Guild of America also published their own letter of support, which you can read here.

Read the full statement below:

FINAL-SCL-SGA-MCNA-Letter-to-Congress-re-termination-7.19.24