Congress Built a Do-Over: Copyright Grant Terminations and Author Recapture Rights – March 25, 2026
On March 25, 2026, members and guests of the Copyright Society of the South enjoyed a panel of experts who discussed one of the most complex and high-stakes topics in the modern intellectual property landscape – copyright terminations and recaptures. The panel addressed a common misconception in the creative industries—that once a copyright is signed away, it is gone forever. In reality, the Copyright Act provides a powerful “second chance” mechanism through statutory termination rights, allowing authors and their heirs to recapture ownership of their works after a period of years.
The discussion focused on the technical mechanics of taking back rights once granted, covering the current federal process, best practices for managing portfolios, and the implications of recent state-level legislation.
The event featured a diverse panel of industry experts representing various sectors of the music and legal industries:
- Linda Edell Howard, Esq. (Moderator): Leading attorney and advocate for creator rights.
- Sean McNamara: Director, Publisher Services for the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC).
- Duff Berschback: EVP of Legal and Business Affairs for Concord Music Publishing.
- John Barker: Founder, President & CEO of ClearBox Rights, LLC.
The panelists engaged in a lively conversation over the challenges of the termination process, including the administrative hurdles for publishers and the life-changing financial impact for authors who successfully recapture their catalogs.
About The Copyright Society of the South
The Copyright Society of the South was formed in 1988 in Nashville, Tennessee, consisting of music publishers, attorneys, music industry personnel, and academicians interested in the field of copyright law. Its mission is to provide a forum for study and discussion of domestic and international copyright law and other matters pertaining to the entertainment industry. It provides seminars, speakers, presentations, and the opportunity to present various points of view on subjects of interest to the membership. The Society refrains from taking a lobbying role or endorsing or sponsoring political positions or candidates.
Members are accepted into the organization by board vote. If you are interested in joining the Copyright Society of the South please send an email with your resume/bio/CV to copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .
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