The estates of Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell, former members of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, have lost a High Court battle against Sony Music Entertainment UK (SMEUK) over copyright and performers’ rights for the band’s 1960s recordings.
The legal action sought a declaration of entitlement to shares in the ownership of copyrights for approximately 40 studio recordings and rights related to the performances, along with an inquiry into potential outstanding payments. Mr Justice Edwin Johnson dismissed the claims, citing a “clear and unequivocal” clause in the original recording agreement that granted copyright to the producers, not the musicians.
The judge also found that previous releases signed by Mr Redding and Mr Mitchell, acknowledging “full settlement of any compensation,” precluded the estates’ claims. Despite arguments that the musicians “died in relative poverty” while the recordings remain a “lucrative source of revenue,” the judge stated he had to construe the 1966 agreement as it was entered into, noting its terms may have been unfair to the band members.
The ruling underscores the enduring legal complexities surrounding intellectual property rights in the music industry, particularly for historic recording contracts. The estates had argued that the musicians were not fairly compensated, but the court determined that the contractual language was clear and binding.
