LOS ANGELES – A Canadian corporation that distributes and markets sound recordings is seeking declaratory judgment regarding the copyrights on master recordings.
Unidisc Music Inc. filed a complaint on June 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division against William Shelby, Kevin Spencer, Leon Sylvers, et al. seeking declaration of copyright ownership.
According to the complaint, in 2005 the plaintiff acquired the copyrights of some master recordings of music groups Dynasty, Shalamar, Lakeside and Midnight Star that were recorded for the Sound of Los Angeles Records in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2013, Lastrada Entertainment Co. contacted the plaintiff on behalf of Dynasty, Shalamar, Lakeside and Midnight Star to terminate the plaintiff's copyrights on the recordings. The plaintiff alleges that these terminations are ineffective.
The plaintiff is seeking declaration that it owns the copyrights of the masters; injunctive relief; actual, punitive and treble damages; all legal fees; and any other relief as this court deems just. It is represented by Guy C. Nicholson and Keith J. Wesley of Browne George Ross LLP in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division case number 2:17-cv-04287-SJO-JEM