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I picked this up from another site on copyright termination:

The Copyright Act includes two sets of rules for how this works. If an artist or author sold a copyright before 1978 (Section 304), they or their heirs can take it back 56 years later. If the artist or author sold the copyright during or after 1978 (Section 203), they can terminate that grant after 35 years. Assuming all the proper paperwork gets done in time, record labels could lose sound recording copyrights they bought in 1978 starting in 2013, 1979 in 2014, and so on. For 1953-and-earlier music, grants can already be terminated.

The Eagles plan to file grant termination notices by the end of the year, according to Law.com. “It’s going to happen,” said Eveline. “Just think of what the Eagles are doing when they get back their whole catalog. They don’t need a record company now…. You’ll be able to go to Eagles.com (currently under construction) and get all their songs. They’re going to do it; it’s coming up.”

Hi John:

That is interesting. I hope the Eagles will be successful in "rebuilding" their catalog of great music. It's gonna be interesting to see how copyright law(s) change here in the USA and around the world. ASCAP seems to think there is a significant threat hovering about in the wings of the courts these days.

Dave,

It is called "FREE." That is the significant threat hanging over the entire industry, and something we keep screaming about over and over on these pages and others. We see one more thing after another talking about copyrights, licsencing, "placement services" and no one seems to get that we are up against a public that wants FREE!
I am the world's biggest Eagles fan. But it doesn't matter one iota what getting their copyrights mean if half of their music is going out FREE. There is nothing a piece of paper, a label at the copyright office, or a warning label is going to do to allieviate that.

If Henley, Frey and others had gotten on the bandwagon ten years ago over downloading like they were asked to do, a lot of this problem could have been adressed then.But they were just too busy being fabulous" as one of their songs say and now the horse is out of the barn.
Look for Springsteen and others to jump on this next. But it is too late. This barn has been burning for a long time and now their bottom lines are affected. They think by going and trying to put teeth in it all now, getting their copyrights or whatever the latest law or Congress fight is going to happen. They will find a way to blame the capitalist system, George Bush, everything. But they all need to look in the mirror. We have been trying to tell them about the coming storm for years. They ignored it.
Now, it is all a little late.

MAB

In this case it is about the Artist seperating the Sound Recording from the Record Label so the Artist doesn't have to go thru the Label to be paid. One thing that has been reported in these last few years is an Artist Signs with a Major Label but because of all the costs involved the Artist most likely will receive nothing from Record Sales.

I believe Copyright Law allowed a song to be copyrighted for a 28 year period and a 28 year renewal and then it went into public domain. I'm not sure about Sound Recordings as those don't involve the PA Copyright.

Today the Copyright update allows a song to be under Copyright for the life of the Author plus 70 years or after the last surviving Author if more than one. Again this is about copyright of the author of the song not the sound recording of which may be over songs recorded but not written by the Artist.

The battle appears to be over who paid for the creation of the sound recordings and if the Artist can ternimate the copyright after the 35 year period now in U.S. Copyright Law. I should be a copyright lawyer! That is where the real money is!

Hey Dave, Don Henley has been very vocal against illegal filesharing. He founded the Recording Artists' Coalition with Sheryl Crow, which was also very anti-illegal downloading and made Congress aware of it throughout the 00's.

I don't think it's fair to say they were asleep at the switch.

Hi Everyone:

Marc... I oppose internet file sharing thru illegal copying. I'll ask Don Henley about his position next time I see him at Caddo Lake. I suspect your version versus his version are somewhat different... and that's not a bad thing. We all have different perspectives and opinions.

Scott... You got the wrong man. I think your response was intended for Marc. I never stated that anyone was asleep at the switch... LOL... but I've known that I've been asleep most of my musical "career."

Guys, I'm not into controversy. I have no need for stirring up a hornet's nest. I simply intended to state that I hope Henley is successful in recovering what is morally his. Just as I hope the progeny of the Beatles are successful in recovering the rights to their music from the estate of Jacko.

Those who create music (whether collaborative or self inflicted)... LOL... are the rightful owners of our work IMHO.

Dave,

The issues of Internet, peer to peer file sharing, started being raised 12-15 years ago through ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and others. At the time, publishers, record labels, producers, etc. started to make noise and try to get attention. Artists would not.
Many of the rock artists, like Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, gave free music away and started the trend we see today. There were numerous seminars, industry conferences and press interviews to address the issues early.
It was quite a bit after, particularly from the Congressional
hearings featuring bands like Metallica (who took a drubbing for it in the press) that the Eagles, and others, came on board, but there has still not been as concerted an effort yet from artists.
It is changing as people like Paul McCartney and Elton John have begun to feel the pinch of spiraling downward legal record sales.

I am not talking any controversy here either. There is none. We have changes in the business, we will address them. And people like Henley, Frey and others have gotten on board.

I have never been that much in the forefront of the issue because my focus is somewhat different. I teach principals of creation, presentation, networking and business, so my interests are on helping others understand and get information on the surrounding issues of the business, in order to make informed decisions on how to proceed intellegently.But I have been to Congress in an NSAI delegation and have had experience face to face with some of the people on the other side.

Always knowing your enemy helps you in dealing with them.

MAB

MAB

Dave: yes, sorry, I was responding to Marc's reply. I too am interested to see if the Eagles can regain ownership of their catalog.

Hi Marc: Thanks for the additional details. I understand and appreciation your position. We are on the same page about this topic.

Scott: Whew, thanks for your clarification too!

Very interesting John and Marc. Thanks.

Tom