Vetter v. Resnik: When Copyright Termination Goes Global

What happens when an artist terminates a decades-old copyright grant under U.S. law, but the work is still being exploited around the world? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin Partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman break down the Fifth Circuit’s decision in Vetter v. Resnik and what it means for worldwide copyright grants. In this episode, they discuss:

• Whether termination under 17 U.S.C. § 304(c) can recapture foreign exploitation rights
• Why the Fifth Circuit parted ways with California cases like Siegel v. Warner Bros.
• The difference between ownership disputes and extraterritorial infringement claims
• How this ruling impacts publishers, studios, catalog buyers, and global licensing strategies
• If termination can unwind a worldwide grant, the leverage shift for authors and heirs could be significant.

Tune in for a clear look at how copyright termination.