JULY 11, 2022 – A favorable decision secured by Davis Wright Tremaine LLP has been included in Law360's mid-year list of the biggest copyright rulings of 2022.
Davis Wright's Peter Anderson achieved the win on behalf of brand licensing company Authentic Brands Group, which holds a broad portfolio of IP assets related to Elvis Presley. Heirs to a co-writer of the iconic song "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" challenged Authentic's rights to the song, which was a number one hit for both Elvis and, thirty years later, UB40.
Authentic prevailed on its motion to dismiss in August 2021, with the judge finding that plaintiffs' argument regarding transfer of rights for authors' successors would "subvert Congress's intent" in the Copyright Act of 1976. The 2nd Circuit issued a published decision in May 2022, affirming that ruling.
Anderson was assisted in the matter by Adam Rich.
About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national law firm with approximately 600 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. The firm is widely recognized as having one of the leading media and entertainment practice groups in the country. For more information, visit www.dwt.com