Matt Smith, corporate lawyer comments on this case:
"Although the issue of the jurisdiction of a contract appears to be Duran Duran’s stumbling block in this case, perhaps it is time to re-assess our copyright laws and look towards adopting a seemingly fairer system, similar to the USA’s model, which gives artists the opportunity to reclaim their copyright after 35 years whilst also allowing them to renegotiate fairer, less draconian terms."
Pop group Duran Duran is seeking to challenge a "shock" high court ruling over the copyright of some of their hit songs to help stop other UK artists missing out on millions. The musicians had sought to reclaim the copyright to some of their hits, including Rio and A View To A Kill, by using US copyright law which reverts the rights of ownership back to artists after 35 years. But a judge at the high court has ruled that contracts made under English law can prevent them from doing so and ruled in favour of their publishers Gloucester Place Music, owned by US business Sony/ATV. It means that whilst artists Billy Joel and Blondie have been handed their copyrights back in the US, UK groups might be stopped from doing so by the contracts they originally signed.
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