Story perspectives

Judge Dismisses Salt-N-Pepa's Copyright Lawsuit Against UMG

1/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

On January 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote dismissed Salt-N-Pepa's lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG).
Salt-N-Pepa sought to reclaim ownership of their master recordings under the Copyright Act.
The judge ruled Salt-N-Pepa never owned the copyrights because ownership had been granted to Noise in the Attic Productions.
UMG stated the suit was baseless.
Salt-N-Pepa's music remains unavailable on major streaming services.

History

Historical Context

The Copyright Act of 1976, effective January 1, 1978, transformed U.S. copyright law by extending protection to unpublished works and establishing ownership transfer rules. This legislation significantly impacted artists like Salt-N-Pepa, whose master recordings often reverted to record labels. The recent dismissal of their lawsuit against Universal Music Group highlights ongoing struggles for artists to reclaim rights over their creative works, shaping future legal battles in the music industry.

1 of 2

Story summary

On January 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote dismissed Salt-N-Pepa's lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG).
Salt-N-Pepa sought to reclaim ownership of their master recordings under the Copyright Act.
The judge ruled Salt-N-Pepa never owned the copyrights because ownership had been granted to Noise in the Attic Productions.
UMG stated the suit was baseless.
Salt-N-Pepa's music remains unavailable on major streaming services.

1 / 2