Sony Music Wins UK Legal Battle Over Jimi Hendrix Band Recordings

The UK High Court has dismissed a claim for infringement of copyright and performers’ property rights brought against Sony Music in respect of The Jimi Hendrix Experience studio albums.

Path to this point:

• In February 2022, the estates of former The Jimi Hendrix Experience members Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell commenced legal claims in London against Sony Music.

• The claimants argued that their rights – said to include co-ownership of the sound recording copyrights in the albums Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold As Love and Electric Ladyland, and the performers’ property rights in Redding’s and Mitchell’s performances on those records – were being infringed.

• They also argued that technical developments in the music industry, such as digital exploitation and streaming, were not anticipated at the time of the recording agreement or any subsequent settlement agreements.

• Sony applied for summary judgment in January 2024, which was denied by Justice Michael Green; the company’s appeal of that decision was dismissed in February 2025.

• The High Court hearing took place last December.

The judgment:

• As Music Business Worldwide explains, Justice Edwin Johnson found the claims failed on three independent grounds.

• The first is that copyright was initially owned by the band’s producers, Michael Jeffery and Chas Chandler, as per the 1966 Recording Agreement.

• In addition, he found that the claims by the estates were barred by settlements reached by Redding and Mitchell in the 1970s, in which the musicians signed releases and dropped earlier lawsuits in the New York courts.

• Regarding the performers’ property rights, the judge declared that the consent provided by Redding and Mitchell in the 1966 agreement “was not limited in time, and was not limited to any particular methods for the delivery of music.”

• The High Court affirmed that Experience Hendrix – the Hendrix family company that licenses the legendary guitarist’s catalog to Sony Music Entertainment – has valid chains of title to all relevant rights and consents relating to the recording agreement, settlement agreements and discontinuances.

What they said:

• A spokesperson for Sony Music and Experience Hendrix: “Sony Music and Experience Hendrix are thankful that this litigation, which has lasted over four years, has come to an end.  They are also pleased that the High Court confirmed that there has been no infringement of any rights and that they are fully entitled to exploit their rights in The Jimi Hendrix Experience catalogue.”