Victor Willis is probably best known for being part of the 80s popular song and dance group “The Village People”. One of the Village People’s most popular song was YMCA, if you’ve ever been to any social gathering chances are you’ve heard it.
In the early 80s, Willis assigned the lyrical copyright for YMCA, which he shared with at the time with a singer who is now deceased, to the group’s publishing company at the time. This was done in exchange for 12-20% royalties, as well as (I assume) promotional and distribution benefits.
However it now seems as though Willis is able to claim back the copyright. Section 203 (a) of the United States’ copyright act allows an artist to terminate any copyright agreements with publishers or record labels after 35 years. It should be noted that this provision only applies to songs which were recorded/written post 1977. Willis exercised this legal right granted to him under the act in 2011, and after a long drawn out legal battle it seems that he has come out as the victor.
Source:
http://www.scotsman.com/what-s-on/music/victor-willis-wins-ymca-copyright-battle-1-3094098
