Supreme Court rejects music labels' challenge to copyright termination ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by major music labels to overturn a ruling on copyright termination. The justices upheld the view that a U.S. law letting creators reclaim rights after decades applies globally, not only to U.S.-held copyrights. The decision dealt a setback to BMG, Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music. The dispute traces to songwriter Cyril Vetter, who co-wrote the 1960s rock hit “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love)” with the late Donald Smith. Vetter sent a termination notice in 2019 effective in 2022, and courts later declared him the worldwide owner. The labels argued the lower ruling would disrupt industry practice worth billions.