The Briefing: Lil’ Joe Records v. 2 Live Crew: Bankruptcy and Copyright Termination 11th Circuit
Published: June 26, 2026
In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman revisit Lil’ Joe Records, Inc. v. Ross after the Eleventh Circuit reversed the district court’s ruling in favor of 2 Live Crew. The decision turns on a key bankruptcy issue: whether a copyright termination interest that was never scheduled in a Chapter 7 case remains property of the bankruptcy estate.
In this episode, they cover:
- Why the Eleventh Circuit found Mark Ross’s termination interest remained in his bankruptcy estate
- How that changed the Section 203 majority vote needed to reclaim the copyrights
- What the ruling means for artists, estates, catalog owners, and attorneys handling termination notices
The ruling changes the vote count under Section 203 and raises new due diligence questions for catalog reclamation projects. Tune in for a clear look at where copyright termination rights meet bankruptcy law.
Watch this episode on our YouTube or listen to the podcast here.