Ruling in Flo & Eddie vs. SiriusXM

HAPPIER TOGETHER: In a legal decision that could have sweeping consequences for heritage artists and music services alike, a U.S. District judge in California on Monday (9/21) issued a summary judgment in favor of Turtles founding members Flo & Eddie in their suit against SiriusXM. The longtime partners are seeking $100m in damages from the satellite radio operator for not paying royalties on Turtles hits released before sound recordings began falling under federal copyright protection. The suit cites a 1982 California law written to rectify the 1972 federal law, which provides no copyright protection for pre-1972 recordings. Damages will be set next month. Other states have legal actions in progress, brought by labels and SoundExchange against SiriusXM and Pandora by labels. The RESPECT Act, a proposed bill in the House of Representatives, would, if passed, correct the pre-1972 oversight. See RAIN for more detail. (9/24p)