A federal judge in Louisiana has issued a groundbreaking ruling that U.S. copyright termination rules apply globally, potentially reshaping international music rights management. The case centers on songwriter Cyril Vetter's claim to the 1963 track "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)."

The ruling challenges traditional understanding of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976's termination rights, which previously were thought to apply only within U.S. territories. Under the new interpretation, when authors exercise their termination rights, they regain copyright control worldwide, not just domestically.

Key aspects of the case:

• The song was written in 1962 by Don Smith and Cyril Vetter
• Originally sold to Windsong Music Publishers in 1963 for one dollar
• Copyright renewed in 1994 for 28 years
• Smith's heirs reclaimed and sold their share to Vetter after Smith's death in 1972
• Windsong sold rights to Resnik Music Group in 2019
• Vetter exercised termination rights in 2022, 56 years after the original copyright

Resnik Music Group argues this ruling could disrupt the established international copyright system, where protection is typically governed by the laws of each individual country. They warn it could lead to copyright determination being based on country of origin rather than where protection is claimed.

The case is expected to face appeals, as Resnik's legal team has already attempted to challenge the ruling. If upheld, this decision could fundamentally alter how music copyright termination functions globally and potentially affect countless existing music rights agreements.

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