Cher wins years-long legal battle over royalties with Sonny Bono’s widow

Cher won a legal battle with Mary Bono over royalties from Cher’s work with her late ex-husband Sonny Bono.

According to documents obtained by Fox News Digital, U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt of the Central District of California ruled Wednesday that Cher should have received just over $418,000 in royalties as of June 30, 2022.

“With respect to the resulting damages, the parties agree that Wixen distributed at least $187,000 in composition royalties to Sonny’s heirs which, but for the invalid termination, would have been distributed to (Cher); of this amount, at least $93,500 was paid to (Mary). The parties also do not dispute that as of June 30, 2022, Wixen (Music Publishing) held $418,156.82 in composition royalties that were allegedly distributed to (Cher). ” the judge wrote.

Representatives for Cher and Mary Bono did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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In 2021, Cher filed a $1 million lawsuit against Mary Bono and others involved in the estate, alleging breach of contract.

She claimed Mary tried to end arrangements allowing Cher to own 50% of the duo’s musical composition and record royalties for hits like “I Got You Babe” and “The Beat Goes On.”

Documents obtained by Fox News Digital at the time cite a “1978 marriage agreement” that Sonny and Cher entered into after their separation. Cher claims that the exes “agreed to an equal division of their community property” and that it was “irrevocably awarded to her.”

According to the lawsuit, “in approximately 2016, the heirs, or a majority of them, with the assistance or participation of Wixen (Music Publishing), issued a notice of termination to various music publishers or other companies to whom Sonny had granted a transfer. or the license to renew copyright, or rights arising therefrom, in musical compositions. The heirs’ notice specified various effective termination dates ranging from 2018 to 2026.”

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Mary, a trustee of the Bono Collection Trust, exercised copyright law’s “termination rights” in 2016, which allow songwriters or their heirs to “reclaim… rights that had previously been transferred to third parties” after 35 years.

They alleged that the termination was carried out “without the knowledge” of Cher and without her “participation.”

Judge Kronstadt’s ruling said Wednesday: “In reviewing similar agreements granting royalty rights rather than underlying copyrights, circuit courts have determined that a right to receive royalties is distinct from the grant of copyright,” which Mary had cited.

Cher’s breach of contract claim was also upheld in part.

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Mary’s counterclaim for declaratory relief as to Cher’s “rights and obligations regarding the selection of an administrator” for the estate was granted in part, meaning Mary can request that the estate be administered by ” an entity owned and controlled by Sonny’s heirs as trustee of the royalties.” “, and Cher may “make reasonable objections to the terms of any such agreement, including the reasonableness of administration fees.”

The documents did not specify how or when Cher would receive her unpaid winnings.