Paul McCartney Files Docs to Reclaim Rights to Beatles Songs From Sony

Pop Legend Paul McCartney wants his Beatles songs back and he’s ready to fight for them.

According to CNN, in a new attempt of the singer-songwriter’s long pursuit of his rights, McCartney has filed a lawsuit against Sony/ATV Music Publishing on Wednesday. After years and years of trying to regain the rights to a slew of Beatles hits that he wrote or co-wrote with John Lennon, McCartney says the 1976 Copyright Act should finally allow him to get his songs from Sony/ATV next year.

Sony, alongside pop icon Michael Jackson, formed Sony/ATV in 1995, 10 years after Jackson paid upwards of $40 million to obtain the ATV collection that included several Beatles hits. Apparently, Jackson outbid McCartney to secure the catalog but seven years after Jackson’s death, the singer’s estate sold its 50% stake to Sony/ATV for $750 million, giving the company full control.

According to reports, McCartney’s journey to reclaim rights began back in 2008, when he sent Sony/ATV “termination notices to reclaim his copyright interests in his musical compositions.” By 2018, the notices should start taking effect, beginning with the rights to “Love Me Do,” court documents reveal.

The singer is asking the court to rule in his favor, that terminating his rights are not a breach of publishing agreements. McCartney’s counsel is worried about a breach of contract because of a ruling handed down last year, involving pop group Duran Duran. The court ruled in favor of a Sony/ATV subsidiary, after it sued the group for breach of contract when they tried to reclaim rights to their songs.