Paul McCartney Sues Sony Over Beatles Music
Paul McCartney has filed a federal lawsuit against music publisher Sony/ATV, claiming ownership to songs he wrote with the Beatles. The singer-songwriter hopes to regain his copyrights to songs such as “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude” and “The Long and Winding Road” in October 2018. A rep for McCartney said that the paperwork, filed in a U.S. District Court in New York, is meant “to confirm his ownership” of the songs “which are granted to him by US copyright law.” The lawsuit claims McCartney has been making several such legal filings since 2008.
The former Beatle is seeking a “declaratory judgment,” according to The Hollywood Reporter, to ensure the transfer will not be prolonged. He’s also seeking a ruling that the publishing agreements are unlawful and unenforceable against McCartney, attorneys’ fees and any other fees the court feels is just.
McCartney’s legal team is citing the 1976 Copyright Act that says that the rights to works made before 1978 must be returned to their creators 56 years after the date of the original copyright; 2018 will be 56 years since Lennon and McCartney first starting writing songs together in 1962.
“Sony/ATV has the highest respect for Sir Paul McCartney with whom we have enjoyed a long and mutually rewarding…
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