In December 1995, Michael Jackson agreed to merge ATV Music Publishing (owners of The Beatles catalog) with Sony Music Publishing, a division of Sony Corporation, to form Sony/ATV Music. Currently his estate still holds his 50% share in the company and the loans have been paid. Sony/ATV Music manages the catalog. McCartney can begin to regain publishing rights in 2018. The U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 allows songwriters to get back publishing rights of songs written before 1978 after 56 years. That means he can regain publishing rights to songs from 1962 in 2018 and a few more each year following until he'll have them all by 2025 (1969 being the last year he and Lennon were contracted to ATV who had purchased Northern Songs).schan1269 said:I thought it was common knowledge the Beatles weren't owned by any of the prior Beatles. That was the rift people Paul and Michael Jackson.
The real bit is...what has happened to the catalog since MJ's death and his loans against it?