Salt-N-Pepa have filed an opening appeal brief asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to revive their lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over ownership and control of their master recordings. The pioneering hip-hop duo, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, argue that the lower court used the wrong legal standard when it dismissed their case in January.
Background on the lawsuit
The dispute centers on Salt-N-Pepa’s 1980s recording agreements and whether those deals allowed them to later terminate the transfer of copyrights under Section 203 of the Copyright Act. In January, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote ruled that the contracts showed the duo never owned the copyrights or master tapes, and therefore had no rights to reclaim, and she also threw out their related conversion claim over physical master tapes.
Salt-N-Pepa’s brief points to language in their 1986 agreement with Noise In The Attic Productions, and related documents with Next Plateau Records, as evidence that they granted and can now terminate a transfer of rights, directly contesting the judge’s reading of those contracts. Their catalog, which includes hits like “Push It” and “Whatta Man,” continues to generate substantial royalties, and many early recordings remain unavailable on U.S. streaming services after UMG pulled them in 2024 amid the dispute.
What the appeal seeks
In the new filing, the group asks the Second Circuit to reverse the dismissal and send the case back for further proceedings so they can pursue termination of the alleged transfers and damages for UMG’s control over their masters. Their legal team argues that artists do not need to “assert” ownership in a particular way to enjoy termination rights, and that the district court’s approach, if left standing, would make it harder for legacy acts to use the Copyright Act’s 35-year recapture provisions.
Potential industry impact
The outcome of the appeal could affect how older recording contracts are interpreted and how easily artists can reclaim control of classic catalogs from major labels. For Salt-N-Pepa, the fight is framed as both a business and legacy issue, with the duo insisting that meaningful access to and authority over their master recordings is essential to preserving their place in hip-hop history and sustaining their careers.