10cc’s Graham Gouldman sues ex-manager for allegedly ignoring copyright terminations

A number one member of UK rock band 10cc has sued his former supervisor and writer in an effort to take again management of the US copyrights on 13 compositions.

Graham Gouldman, who was co-lead singer within the artwork rock band identified finest for its traditional I’m Not In Love, alleges that Harvey Lisberg, a music writer and Gouldman’s former private supervisor, is ignoring Gouldman’s request to take again the copyrights, and is amassing royalties on them with out permission.

Underneath US copyright regulation, the unique creators of compositions and recordings registered earlier than 1978 can take again their copyrights, no matter who they assigned them to or for a way lengthy, after 56 years. (For works registered after 1978, it’s 35 years.)

In a criticism filed with the US District Courtroom for the Central District of California on Monday (December 8), Gouldman’s attorneys acknowledged that in 2020 Gouldman despatched a discover of termination to Lisberg’s firm, Man-Ken Music, declaring he could be taking again the music copyrights on 13 compositions registered between 1965 and 1968, and which Man-Ken had been publishing for many years.

However Man-Ken “knowingly and willfully ignored” the termination dates on these compositions, which ran between 2022 and 2024, the criticism alleged.

“Regardless of having full data that the efficient dates of termination have handed, defendants improperly asserted rights within the compositions, willfully and with none foundation in any way, proceed to use the compositions in full and willful disregard of the regulation, and assert that they, and never Gouldman or his publishing administrator Sony, are the rightful publishers,” acknowledged the criticism.

Gouldman says he signed a publishing administration take care of Sony Music Publishing in August 2024, and Sony “grew to become conscious that Man-Ken (and its administrator Clever Music) have been persevering with to keep up possession and management of the US copyrights in and to the compositions.” the criticism acknowledged.

The lawsuit seeks statutory damages for copyright infringement of $1.95 million, plus the income from Gouldman’s music that Man-Ken Music made in the course of the interval it was amassing royalties previous the termination date.

Gouldman is the one fixed member of 10cc since its formation in 1972. Previous to 10cc, Gouldman labored as a contract songwriter and wrote numerous hits, together with The Yardbirds’ For Your Love, The Hollies’ Bus Cease, and No Milk Immediately by Herman’s Hermits, which is among the compositions concerned within the lawsuit.

Gouldman additionally co-wrote songs for 10cc, together with I’m Not In Love, The Issues We Do For Love and Dreadlock Vacation. Not one of the 10cc songs are named within the go well with.

The proper to take again copyrights underneath US regulation is commonly at play in copyright lawsuits. In 2024, a jury in Florida dominated that members of and heirs of rap group 2 Stay Crew may take again their copyrights from Lil’ Joe Information.

Earlier this 12 months, hip hop duo Salt-n-Pepa sued Common Music Group, alleging UMG was utilizing “heavy-handed techniques” to dam them from exercising their termination rights. UMG says Salt-n-Pepa “served an invalid termination discover.”Music Enterprise Worldwide