Salt-n-Pepa performing at the Canberra Theatre in 2013 | CC BY 2.0
A federal court has dismissed hip-hop legends Salt-N-Pepa’s copyright termination lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), dealing a setback to the duo’s effort to reclaim ownership of their master recordings. However, the group has already confirmed plans to appeal the ruling, ensuring the long-running debate over artist rights and copyright ownership remains very much alive.
A Judge Sides With UMG in New York Federal Court
The decision came from U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in New York, who granted UMG’s motion to dismiss in an Opinion & Order dated January 8, 2026, with judgment officially entered the following day. Salt-N-Pepa — Cheryl James and Sandra Denton — originally filed the lawsuit in May 2025, arguing that UMG interfered with their attempt to reclaim rights under Section 203 of the Copyright Act, a federal provision that allows creators to terminate certain copyright grants decades after signing them. They also alleged the label retaliated by removing some of their music from streaming platforms.
In her ruling, Judge Cote emphasized that Section 203 only applies when the copyright transfer was originally executed by the author. The court found that Salt-N-Pepa did not plausibly show they ever owned the copyrights to their master recordings. Instead, contracts from 1986 indicated that ownership belonged to their producer’s company, Noise In The Attic Productions, Inc. (NITA), with rights later transferred to Next Plateau Records. As Cote wrote, “Even viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, the 1986 agreements do not indicate that Plaintiffs ever owned the copyrights to the sound recordings.”
An Appeal Is Already in Motion
Despite the dismissal, journalist Loren Lorosa confirmed that Salt-N-Pepa plans to appeal. In a statement, the duo said they “respectfully disagree with the Court’s decision and fully intend to pursue our rights on appeal,” adding that they remain committed to reclaiming their rights as creators. Universal Music Group, meanwhile, expressed openness to resolving the dispute, saying it remains willing to “find a resolution” and focus on amplifying the group’s legacy. Salt-N-Pepa also thanked fans on Instagram, saying they believe “justice will prevail in the end.”
While UMG retains control of the disputed recordings for now, the upcoming appeal keeps the spotlight on the ongoing tension between legacy recording contracts and modern artist rights. The case highlights how complex copyright ownership can become decades after agreements are signed — and why the fight over who controls master recordings remains one of the music industry’s most consequential legal debates.
About the Author
