Iconic rap duo Salt-N-Pepa have lost their closely watched copyright lawsuit against Universal Music Group, after a federal judge in the Southern District of New York dismissed their claims over ownership of their classic master recordings. According to Music Business Worldwide, Judge Denise Cote issued an opinion and order on January 8, 2026, granting UMG’s motion to dismiss and finding that the group never owned the copyrights to the relevant sound recordings and therefore could not use U.S. copyright “termination rights” to reclaim them.[2] Legal analysts note the decision represents UMG’s second significant courtroom victory in recent years against high‑profile rap artists challenging historic catalog deals.
Salt-N-Pepa—Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton—filed the suit in 2025, arguing that UMG was improperly blocking their attempt to terminate earlier grants of rights under Section 203 of the Copyright Act and regain control of music released more than 35 years ago.[1][2] They served a Notice of Termination in March 2022, with the earliest termination date listed as May 15, 2024, seeking to recapture copyrights and physical master tapes for their breakout recordings.[2] But Judge Cote ruled that the trio of 1986 agreements at the core of the case showed their then‑producer Hurby Azor’s company, Noise In The Attic Productions (NITA), and not Salt-N-Pepa themselves, was the original owner of the sound recording copyrights.[2]
According to court documents summarized by Law Commentary and Music Business Worldwide, the 1986 NITA recording agreement stated that NITA would be the “sole and exclusive owner” of all master recordings, which were then transferred by Azor to Next Plateau Records in a separate deal the same day.[1][2] Judge Cote concluded that because Salt-N-Pepa never executed a transfer of copyright themselves, they had no termination rights to exercise under Section 203 and could not reclaim ownership.[2] The court also dismissed their conversion claim over alleged interference with possession of their master tapes, finding they failed to establish ownership of those physical assets.[2] UMG, described in the opinion as successor-in-interest to both Next Plateau and London Records, had urged dismissal on the basis that the lawsuit lacked a viable legal theory.[2]
UMG welcomed the ruling, with a spokesperson telling Music Business Worldwide the company was “gratified that the court dismissed this baseless lawsuit,” while emphasizing that, even before litigation, it had made multiple attempts to improve the duo’s compensation and keep their music accessible for fans, reportedly without any legal obligation to do so.[1][2] The label added that it remains “open and willing to find a resolution” and to work with Salt-N-Pepa to “amplify [their] legacy for generations to come.”[1][2] Representatives for the group did not immediately respond to requests for comment in coverage reviewed by Law Commentary, though their legal team has previously framed the dispute as part of a broader fight over artist ownership and catalog control.[1]
The case arrives amid heightened scrutiny of legacy recording contracts and efforts by veteran hip-hop and R&B acts to claw back rights to foundational works. According to IP Law Daily’s summary of the decision, Salt-N-Pepa’s failure to “push [the claim] over the line” under current copyright doctrine underscores how the structure of 1980s production and distribution deals can limit modern termination strategies, even for Rock & Roll Hall of Famers.[3] For Universal Music Group, the dismissal reinforces a recent pattern of successfully defending long‑standing catalog interests against challenges from marquee rap artists, while for creators, the ruling is likely to fuel ongoing debates over ownership, power, and the future of artists’ rights in the streaming era.
