Mary Bono Appeals Cher’s Landmark Publishing Win

Sonny Bono’s widow, Mary Bono, is appealing a court ruling that determined Cher is still entitled to half of the publishing proceeds from her 1960s hits with Sonny, including “I Got You Babe” and “Baby Don’t Go.”

Backstory:

• As per Digital Music News, Mary has been trying to invoke termination rights to stop paying Cher royalties on her work with Sonny.

• Said rights allow artists and their heirs to regain control of intellectual property years after it was signed away.

• Last year a federal judge ruled termination rights don’t apply to the singers’ 1978 divorce settlement, in which Cher was awarded a 50% cut of publishing revenue from Sonny & Cher’s 1960s songs in perpetuity.

• He ruled that the divorce agreement related to financial compensation, not a grant of IP that could be terminated, writing, “A right to royalties is distinct from a grant of copyright.”