Congress Built a Do-Over: Copyright Grant Terminations and Author Recapture Rights
2026-03-25 11:30 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Many creators and practitioners believe that once a copyright is signed away, it’s gone for good. But the Copyright Act tells a different story. Hidden within the law is a powerful “second chance” mechanism: the statutory right to terminate prior transfers and recapture ownership.
Whether you are representing authors or managing portfolios, understanding these termination rights is essential for navigating the modern IP landscape. Join us for an insightful deep dive presented by attorney Linda Edell Howard into the mechanics of taking back what was once given away.

Linda Edell Howard is affectionately known as the “Mama Mafia” because of her decades of almost ruthless representation of client interests to attain legacy preservation, financial growth, and avenge the historical inequities inherent in the power-base of the entertainment industry. She is recognized as a preeminent Intellectual Property expert, specializing in the field of global copyright protection and enforcement. With over 40 years of experience in television, film, music, and new media law, social media transactions and emerging technologies, Linda guides her clients to implement successful growth and monetization strategies. Her knowledge in the field of copyright recapture is unsurpassed. Her deep network of highly regarded industry leaders and clients include songwriters with some of the biggest songs in recorded music history. As an attorney, she has helped clients protect and monetize the copyrights for 100s of musical works.
Linda also advises numerous key industry executives, business entrepreneurs, personalities, influencers, brands, innovators, thought leaders, independent music publishers, songwriters, recording artists, producers, social media celebrities, record labels and related industry players such as banks, unions, inventors and investors.
After Law School, she was appointed to the prestigious judicial clerkship with the New Jersey Supreme Court and then practiced law where she was counsel to the Estates of George Gershwin and Elvis Presley. She later joined PolyGram Music Publishing Group as Vice President of Operations, and then was a partner in the Nashville office of Loeb & Loeb before establishing the Entertainment and New Media division at Adams and Reese. In order to bring her entrepreneurial spirit and the most value and vigilance to her clients and business associates, in early 2021, Linda branched out on her own to align her talents to her highest and greatest strengths with Edell Howard Enterprises. She embraces and attacks difficult problems and road blocks with a stringent “can do” philosophy.
She is a featured “Super Lawyer” and has been awarded the title of “Leader in Their Field” and a “Woman of Influence,” and was named among the “brightest and most successful entertainment lawyers” by HITS magazine. Linda has also been featured in articles in Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter and The Los Angeles Times. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Creative Community for Peace, the Board of Directors for Music Health Alliance, Ordinary Hero Foundation and the Foundation for Families of Late Talking Children, and is a Master of the Nashville Entertainment and IP Inn of Court. She is an alumnus of Leadership Music, and a member of the Country Music Association, and National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

This is a private event for Society members and their registered guests. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Copyright Society of the South, or if you are an active member and did not receive your email invitation, contact us at copyrightsocietyofthesouth@gmail.com .
