Deals & Your Rights
Copyright Termination & Reversion
US law lets songwriters and artists reclaim rights they signed away — roughly 35 years later — through a strict statutory notice window.
US copyright law gives creators a powerful do-over: the right to terminate a grant of rights and reclaim their copyrights decades after signing them away. For grants made in 1978 or later, the window opens about 35 years later (17 U.S.C. §203); older works fall under §304.
It's strict and time-sensitive — termination only works if you file the right notice inside a narrow window, and it doesn't undo work made for hire, which never reverts. It's a legal step beyond Notes' scope, but knowing the right exists protects the long-term value of your catalog.
Good to know
Copyright Termination & Reversion: common questions
- Can I get my rights back after signing them away?
- Often yes — US law lets you terminate many grants about 35 years later and reclaim your copyright, but only by filing a specific notice within a strict statutory window.
- Does termination apply to work made for hire?
- No. Works made for hire don't revert — the hiring party is the legal author from the start, so there's nothing to reclaim.