A US federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by legendary hip-hop duo Salt-N-Pepa against Universal Music Group (UMG), bringing an end, for now, to their bid to reclaim ownership of their master recordings.
Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton had sued UMG in May after the company rejected their attempt to invoke “termination rights” under Section 203 of the US Copyright Act. The law allows artists to regain control of their copyrights decades after transferring them, typically after 35 years.
Speaking to Good Morning America in August, James said the duo had followed all legal procedures to reclaim their masters but were forced to sue after UMG refused to comply.
The pair also alleged that UMG removed some of their biggest hits, including Push It, from streaming platforms during the dispute.
UMG, however, argued that Salt-N-Pepa were not entitled to termination rights because they did not personally sign their 1986 recording agreement, which was executed through the imprint Next Plateau Records.
On Thursday, Judge Denise Cote agreed with UMG’s position and dismissed the case in its entirety. Reacting to the ruling, a UMG spokesperson said the company was “gratified that the court dismissed this baseless lawsuit.”
Salt-N-Pepa still have the option to appeal the dismissal if they choose to pursue the matter further.
