MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER
I’m Evan Cohen. I’ve been a music lawyer for over thirty-five years. I’ve run music publishing companies and record companies. I have litigated extensively in the copyright field, regarding all kinds of different disputes. I’ve worked for songwriters, musicians, bands, music publishers, and independent record labels. And, I’ve been working with terminations since the late 1980s.
I know what you’re thinking.
“What is this? Who are these people? No one has told me anything about this…can this be true? It sounds a little too good to be true.”
It is true. It is the law.
Here’s the secret: “They” haven’t told you, because they don’t want you to know. Who are “they”? The record companies and the RIAA, the music publishers. And, to our knowledge, ASCAP and BMI have said nothing about this. They should be having seminars to help you! But they aren’t. Why? They hate losing copyrights. Trust me on that one.
Here’s another fact: Not even your trusted and knowledgeable music lawyer, or your manager, or other advisors know much about this law. Most music lawyers have just a vague understanding that something like this exists, but they have no deeper understanding of the law, or, more importantly, the life-changing implications of it. I hate to say it, but some music lawyers don’t want to make waves at the labels or major publishers. If you know what I mean.
This is the law of the United States. It applies to YOU. It is there for YOU. This law, § 203, has been part of the Copyright Act, since it was enacted in 1976. The law took effect on January 1, 1978.
At the time, 35 years seemed a long way away. When I became a lawyer in 1985, it certainly seemed that way. Who had time to think about what would happen in 2013, when we all would be “old”?
Anyway, time flies. Here we are. Now is the time. YOU have a once-in-a lifetime chance to get your US rights back – for free, essentially!
Think about it. You have a terrible royalty rate from 1980? Wiped out. Stupid “unrecouped balance,” so you’re not getting paid anything? Gone. The rights belong to YOU after two years. You can do what you want with rights. Keep them, and put them on iTunes and Spotify. Issue licenses for film and television productions. License them to another label. Sell them. It’s YOUR choice. At least with the US rights, that is.
This is serious. Get educated. Take charge and get YOUR rights back!
WHO WE ARE
Copyright Termination Experts is a part of an entertainment law firm located in Santa Barbara, focused entirely on the music business, and, especially, music publishing and indie record label issues.
We are “music people,” and this is what we know.
We view these sections of the Copyright Act as a once-in-a-lifetime chance for clients to terminate the agreements that they made 35 years ago (or, in the case of older pre-1978 songs, 57 years ago).
Our firm has a broad array of experience in these matters, we can get the job done.
WHAT WE DO
As a part of our experimental business model, we are extending our services to all bands, recording artists, songwriters, and the survivors of musicians of songwriters (widows and children, and other heirs), who are seeking to terminate the agreements relating to recordings and compositions.
Music attorney Evan S. Cohen and our team of professionals are offering to research and prepare and send Notices of Termination to the current copyright holder. There are no strings attached.
This law affects, most immediately, recordings and songs released from 1985 to 1990. If you fit in that category (or, perhaps, you are related to someone who does), you need to explore your rights.
This law is news to most people, but it is very real and very urgent. Or, you may already be addressing this issue, but if you haven't, there really is no downside to this procedure.
In some cases, deadlines are approaching quickly, so now is the time to act.
