De Walt v. Jobete Music Co.
Appellants[1]are the heirs of the late musician and composer Autry De Walt, professionally known as Junior Walker (De Walt), who died in 1995. De Walt authored numerous songs, including 31 songs in the 1960s that are the subject of the parties dispute (the disputed songs). De Walt entered into a series of contracts with respondent Jobete Music Co., Inc. (Jobete). Appellants maintain that the first series of these contracts, known as the 1960s single-song agreements, govern the disputed songs and that these agreements granted to Jobete only the original terms of the copyrights and not the renewal terms. Court agree with Jobete that because the jury determined that the 1960s single-song agreements were replaced by the parties later agreements and appellants admitted that the later agreements did convey renewal copyrights, the jury was never called upon to decide whether the 1960s single song agreements conveyed renewal copyrights. Accordingly, no federal question was raised and the case was properly tried in state court. Court therefore affirm the judgment.
Comments on De Walt v. Jobete Music Co.