Dismissed! Salt-N-Pepa’s Copyright Lawsuit Against Universal Music Rejected by Judge

Salt-N-Pepa have hit a sour note in their long-running legal fight to reclaim ownership of their music.

The legendary Hip-Hop ensemble, comprised of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “Spinderella” Roper, had accused Universal Music Group of unlawfully blocking them from regaining control of their master recordings decades after release.

Central to their claim were contractual terms they claim were unjust.

However, a federal judge has ruled against them.

Full story below…

Today (January 8), a US District Court judge in New York has officially dismissed the lawsuit, siding with UMG after the label argued the claims failed to meet legal standards under the Copyright Act.

As a result, the ruling essentially ends the case in its current form.

In a statement issued following the decision, UMG did not hold back:

“While we are gratified that the court dismissed this baseless lawsuit, it should never have been brought in the first place.”

The music juggernaut added that it had previously attempted to resolve the dispute privately and improve compensation for James and Denton (who are the members who brought the suit). They stressed that they did this despite having no legal obligation to do so.

There’s been no word from the group in the immediate aftermath of the decision, but it’ll no doubt sting.

Upon their initial filing, reps framed the battle as one rooted in artist legacy and fairness. A sentiment the ladies echoed when they accepted their entry into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last Fall.

Despite the drama (which has seen Salt-N-Pepa’s music removed from streamers), UMG insists that it’s open to working together. Their statement concluded:

“Even with the court’s complete rejection of their claims, we remain open and willing to find a resolution to the matter and turn the page so we can focus our efforts on working together to amplify Salt-N-Pepa’s legacy for generations to come. “

With that, what are…

Your thoughts?

The post Dismissed! Salt-N-Pepa’s Copyright Lawsuit Against Universal Music Rejected by Judge appeared first on ..::That Grape Juice.net::.. - Thirsty?.