US Supreme Court rejects music labels’ challenge to copyright termination ruling

The US Supreme Court recently declined to hear an appeal from major music labels who challenged a lower court's decision regarding copyright termination laws. The case centered around a 1960s rock 'n' roll song called 'Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)', co-written by Cyril Vetter and the late Donald Smith. The Supreme Court upheld a ruling from the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which concluded that a law allowing creators to reclaim their copyrights through a termination process applies globally, not just to US copyrights.

This decision dealt a setback to the music labels BMG, Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music. The labels argued that if the lower court's ruling were to stand, it could cause chaos and threaten billions in agreements. However, four of the nine justices on the Supreme Court did not participate in the appeal's consideration, and the remaining justices determined that the case couldn't be resolved during the current term.

The 5th Circuit's ruling in 2025 confirmed Vetter's sole ownership of the 'Double Shot' copyright worldwide, overturning previous agreements held by the labels.