Overview

• Salt-N-Pepa filed a lawsuit in New York federal court seeking to reclaim ownership of their master recordings under Section 203 of the Copyright Act.
• The duo claims UMG unlawfully refused to honor termination notices served in 2022, which would grant them ownership of recordings from their early career.
• UMG has removed Salt-N-Pepa’s music from streaming platforms, which the lawsuit alleges is a retaliatory move that harms their catalog's value and fan access.
• The record label argues the recordings are 'works made for hire,' a classification that would prevent the duo from reclaiming rights.
• Salt-N-Pepa are seeking at least $1 million in damages, a declaratory judgment, and a permanent injunction to block UMG from distributing their music without authorization.