Yoakam sues Warner over copyright issues

Yoakam sent notices of termination pursuant to Section 203 of the Copyright Act, according to The Hollywood Reporter.. The law, enacted in the mid-1970s, permits authors to cancel copyright grants and regain rights after waiting 35 years for newer works. Musicians and writers have been suing record labels as a result.

Yoakam said that Warner subsidiary Rhino Records offered new terms ias a result of his notice, but that Warner" wouldn't give him definitive word that he had successfully recaptured work, in particular his recordings of 'Honky Tonk Man' and 'Miner's Prayer." A draft version of his suit resultedinthe albel saying some works would be "taken down."

Now, Yoakam wants a declaration of his terminatio nand damages for Warners' alleged copyright infringement. Yoakam attorney Richard Busch said, "The termination rights Congress gave to artists like Mr. Yoakam to gain control back over their intellectual property are essential rights that should not be interfered with or delayed. We did not want to have to file this lawsuit, but we were forced to so for all of the reasons set forth in detail in the complaint."