Nctm Studio Legale assisted and defended Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) in the proceedings brought by a popular singer-­songwriter who requested to establish the term of the assignment, to a publisher, of the right to print musical works, such as scores and songs texts, in the maximum length of 20 years, exactly as provided for by copyright law for literary works.

By decision of 29 February, the Supreme Court rejected the main claims put forward by the claimant, accepting instead
the reasons proposed by Universal Publishing. The Supreme Court established that the term of the assignment of the right to print musical works is to last as long as the copyright, and should therefore be calculated in 70 years from the death of the author.

It is the first time that the Supreme Court deals with the duration of the right to print musical works, and its decision to admit Universal Publishing’s claims sets an important precedent for the entire music publishing sector.

Nctm Studio Legale advised Universal Publishing with Lorenzo Attolico, partner.