James v. UMG Recordings, Inc.

District court dismisses claims by rap and hip-hop group Salt N-Pepa seeking declaration they had validly terminated grant of copyright in sound recordings to UMG Recordings' predecessor and alleging possessory interest in master recordings.

Plaintiffs Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, professionally known as the rap and hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa, entered into a recording agreement in 1986 with Noise In The Attic Productions, Inc. (NITA), a company owned by their producer, Herb Azor. Under the recording agreement, plaintiffs agreed that NITA "shall be the sole and exclusive owner of any and all rights, title and/or interest in and to master recordings recorded hereunder, including but not limited to the worldwide sound copyrights therein."