MACCA SUES SONY/ATV OVER BEATLES SONGS

Sir Paul McCartney has filed suit in NYC Federal Court against Sony/ATV over the rights to the Beatles catalog. The pub rights for Macca's portion of those mighty copyrights will begin running out next year, per the Copyright Act of 1976; 2018 will mark the stipulated 56-year interval since the earliest Beatles songs. Team Paul says the pubco has not yet formally agreed to the transfer of rights. Sony/ATV issued the following statement in response:

“Sony/ATV has the highest respect for Sir Paul McCartney, with whom we have enjoyed a long and mutually rewarding relationship with respect to the treasured Lennon & McCartney song catalog. We have collaborated closely with both Sir Paul and the late John Lennon’s Estate for decades to protect, preserve and promote the catalog’s long-term value. We are disappointed that they have filed this lawsuit which we believe is both unnecessary and premature”