In a landmark verdict, 2 Live Crew has successfully regained copyright control of their music catalog through copyright "termination rights." The federal jury in Florida ruled in favor of the hip-hop group against Lil Joe Records, which had owned their copyrights since purchasing them in bankruptcy proceedings in 1996.

The victory means Uncle Luke (Luther Campbell) and the heirs of Fresh Kid Ice (Christopher Wong Won) and Brother Marquis (Mark Ross) can now reclaim control of five albums, including their controversial 1989 release "As Nasty As They Wanna Be."

The case hinged on whether the music was considered "work for hire." Lil Joe Records argued this meant no copyright was initially assigned, but the jury sided with 2 Live Crew's position that termination rights are "inalienable" and cannot be forfeited.

Copyright termination rights allow creators to reclaim their works typically after 35 years. This verdict could set a precedent for other artists seeking to regain control of their musical catalogs.

Lil Joe Records' representatives have announced plans to appeal the decision, citing concerns about the relationship between termination rights and federal bankruptcy law. The case began in 2020 when 2 Live Crew initiated the termination process, leading to Lil Joe's federal court lawsuit after failed negotiations.

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