David Johansen of New York Dolls Leads Class Action Lawsuit In New York Against Sony and Universal

Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group are facing class action lawsuit for copyright infringement, according to Pitchfork. The lawsuits were filed on February 5 by the New York Dolls’ David Johansen, John Waite, Southside Johnny, the Nerves’ Paul Collins, and Joe Ely.

The lawsuits cite Section 203 of the Copyright Act of 1976, which gives recording artists a chance to terminate copyright grants 35 years after their initial release.

“But while the Copyright Act confers upon authors the valuable “second chance” that they so often need, the authors of sound recordings, in particular, who have attempted to avail themselves of this important protection have encountered not only resistance from many record labels, they have been subjected to the stubborn and unfounded disregard of their rights under the law and, in many instances, willful copyright infringement,” the lawsuits state.

The class action suits allege that hundreds of musicians have filed Notices of Termination to both labels, who have “routinely and systematically refused to honor them.” They are seeking damages for copyright infringement and declaratory relief.