Cher wins the royalties case against the widow of Sonny Bono

In a court case involving royalties from their compositions, Cher has triumphed over Mary Bono, the widow of her former husband and musical collaborator Sonny Bono.

The conflict arose from a 1978 divorce agreement that gave Cher a lifelong 50% share in the musical publishing portfolio owned by the pair. Cher and Sonny’s family came to an understanding about their rights when Sonny passed away in 1998.

However, Mary Bono used the “termination rights” clause of the Copyright Act in 2016, which permits songwriters or their successors to regain publishing rights following a 35-year period. She claimed that Cher was no longer eligible for royalties in light of this.

Cher filed a lawsuit in 2021, arguing that the 50% portion specified in the divorce settlement was still hers. Mary Bono filed a countersuit, claiming that the right to terminate could not be given up.

On Wednesday, May 29, the judge, John A. Kronstadt, decided to favour Cher. It was his conclusion that Cher had a “contractual right to receive financial compensation,” independent of copyright ownership, from the divorce settlement.

Judge Kronstadt declared, “A right to royalties is distinct from a grant of copyright.”

As a result of this ruling, Cher will still be paid royalties for her successes with Sonny, such as “The Beat Goes On” and “I Got You Babe.” The judge also gave Cher over $400,000 in royalties that had been withheld during the legal dispute.

Before their breakup, Sonny & Cher sold more than 40 million records worldwide as a well-known musical couple in the 1960s. Cher pursued a prosperous solo career, and Sonny Bono entered politics.