Cher Secures Major Win in Sonny Bono Royalties Dispute

In a significant victory for music artists and the longevity of separation agreements, Cher has successfully won her legal battle against the estate of her late ex-husband, Sonny Bono, securing her continued right to royalties from the iconic Sonny & Cher catalogue. The ruling mandates that Bono’s estate pay Cher approximately $187,000 in royalties that had been improperly withheld.

This dispute centered on a foundational document: a 1978 marriage separation agreement. This agreement stipulated that Cher was entitled to a generous 50% share of the royalties generated by the classic songs of the duo. However, the legal challenge arose from Bono’s widow, Mary Bono, who attempted to leverage a specific clause in US copyright law.

Mary Bono’s argument revolved around the concept of copyright termination rights, a provision that allows creators or their heirs to terminate the grant of a copyright assignment after 35 years. She contended that this right should apply to the 1978 separation agreement, effectively cutting off Cher’s ongoing share of the profits. This legal move, if successful, could have set a precedent for challenging long-standing financial agreements based on divorce or separation terms across the entertainment industry.

Ultimately, the judge did not agree with this interpretation. The ruling, handed down last year, affirmed that the original 1978 agreement remains in force, and that Cher’s right to her 50% share of the catalogue’s income is secure. The court decision not only means a financial payout for Cher but also sends a clear message about the durability of contract law, particularly in high-stakes intellectual property cases within the music business.

For fans of Cher and the legendary duo, this ruling confirms that the profits generated by hits like “I Got You Babe” will continue to be distributed according to the original arrangement. More broadly, the case provides a crucial legal precedent, reinforcing the stability of divorce settlements that involve the assignment of valuable assets, such as music royalties, over decades. The approximately $187,000 awarded is a powerful final confirmation that Cher’s 1978 agreement has withstood the test of time and the complexities of copyright law.