Songwriters win: the Supreme Court lets creators reclaim their copyrights worldwide

In 1962, Cyril Vetter and Donald Smith wrote a song called 'Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)' and sold their rights for one dollar. Decades later, US copyright law's termination rule — written to give creators who signed lopsided early deals a second chance — let Vetter reclaim those rights, and a lower court said the reclaiming applies worldwide, not just in the USA. On Monday the US Supreme Court left that ruling standing, rejecting a challenge by the publishing arms of BMG, Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music. Four justices took no part, so the lower court's decision holds: a creator's second chance reaches around the globe.

SDG 16 · Peace, justice and strong institutions — Mechanism: legal ruling