master reversion

THE TERMINATOR: Thanks to a little-noted provision in U.S. copyright law, a number of artists who released records in 1978 now have the right to reclaim ownership of their masters from the releasing labels, the N.Y. Times reports. When copyright law was revised in the mid-1970s, musicians were granted “termination rights,” which allow them to regain control of their work after 35 years, so long as they apply at least two years in advance. Recordings from 1978 are the first to fall under the purview of the law, but in a matter of months, recordings from 1979 will be in the same situation, as will every subsequent master once it reaches the 35-year mark. (8/15a)