Vetter v Resnik support

Photo Credit: Nick Karvounis

Leading creator organizations unite to file an amicus brief in support of a landmark copyright case that could affirm songwriter rights worldwide.

A coalition of music creator advocacy organizations has filed an amicus brief in Vetter v. Resnik, a copyright case currently before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The brief urges the Court to affirm that U.S. copyright termination rights apply worldwide—an interpretation that would significantly expand protections for songwriters and music creators in the global marketplace.

The brief was filed by the Music Artists Coalition (MAC), a non-profit dedicated to advocating for the rights of music creators, in collaboration with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), Artist Rights Alliance (ARA), and Songwriters of North America (SONA). The law firm of Meitus Strohm LLP served as legal counsel for the amici led by Megan Wheeler.

At the heart of this case lies a question for the court that could shape the global music industry: when songwriters use the Copyright Act’s vital termination rights to recapture their work, does that termination extend worldwide or is it limited to domestic markets?

The case stems from a 1963 agreement in which songwriter Cyril Vetter assigned worldwide rights to his song for minimal compensation. Decades later, Vetter invoked his statutory right to terminate the agreement and reclaim his work. But the opposing party claims this action pertains only to the U.S. market. The district court affirmed that Vetter’s termination recaptured worldwide rights, a ruling the amici urges the Fifth Circuit to uphold.

“This case could set a crucial precedent for creators in today’s global marketplace,” said Susan Genco, MAC board member. “MAC exists to ensure songwriters have a voice and are represented in a case like this. When artists sign away worldwide rights early in their careers for little money, meaningful termination should let them recapture worldwide rights, not just domestic.”

Copyright termination rights allow creators to reclaim rights to their works 35 years after signing them away. This provision recognizes that young artists often lack bargaining power and can’t foresee the future value of their creative output. Congress established these rights with a clear intent to shield creators from early, unremunerative deals and give them a “second chance to control and benefit from [their] work.”

The coalition’s brief argues that restricting termination rights to domestic ownership would fundamentally undermine the protections Congress intended for creators. In the current streaming economy, a song can achieve immediate global reach, generating revenue across international territories simultaneously. Yet without worldwide termination, creators remain bound by agreements made when they lacked leverage and before their works’ global value could be understood, leaving them at a perpetual disadvantage.

“When industry heavyweights line up to defend the status quo and fight against expanded songwriter protections, artists need an advocate,” said Ron Gubitz, MAC Executive Director. “That’s precisely why MAC exists—to champion the rights of music creators. This case could impact so many songwriters who have signed away rights before understanding their works’ true value. I’m grateful to our partners SAG-AFTRA, ARA, BMAC, and SONA [for standing] together with us in this filing.”

“For far too long, Black creators—and especially songwriters—have been disproportionately affected by inequitable contracts that strip away their rights and long-term value,” said Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Music Action Coalition. “This case is about justice and economic empowerment. BMAC stands with our fellow creator organizations to ensure that termination rights apply globally, giving artists the opportunity to reclaim what is rightfully theirs no matter where their music is heard or monetized.”

“This case reaffirms the importance of standing up for songwriters and protecting our ability to reclaim ownership of our work, which is clearly delineated in U.S. law,” said Erin McAnally, Songwriters of North America. “It underscores the importance of allowing those protections to extend internationally in an increasingly global music economy. Songwriters of North America proudly stands united with our creator coalition partners in this filing.”

“The Artist Rights Alliance is proud to join this coalition of creator advocates in supporting the full scope of termination rights granted to musicians and songwriters by Congress,” said Jen Jacobsen, Artist Rights Alliance. “U.S. copyright law must reflect the realities of today’s global music economy, ensuring that artists have the power to reclaim their rights worldwide in a marketplace where their work has instant global reach. Limiting termination rights to the U.S. alone defies both the letter and spirit of the Copyright Act, denying creators the fair treatment and second chance promised to them under the law.”

“Music is global, and the rights afforded to songwriters and recording artists by U.S. copyright are recognized around the globe thanks to the Berne Convention,” said Jeffrey Bennett, SAG-AFTRA. “The district court’s novel theory of recovery in this case is spot on, and it must be affirmed so songwriters and artists may continue to reap the benefits of their work in a digital, global marketplace. We are once again proud to stand with MAC, BMAC, ARA, and SONA to advocate for fair treatment of songwriters and artists.”

“It was an honor to work with the amici on this brief,” concludes Megan Wheeler, Meitus Strohm LLP. “Many of our firm’s artist clients are impacted by the policies surrounding the termination right, and we often hear about its significance to their livelihood and legacy. We are proud to stand with the amici in their advocacy for these creative individuals.”