Cher won her copyright lawsuit against Mary Bono, the widow of Sonny Bono, nearly three years after suing her.
On Wednesday, a California judge ruled in favor of the 78-year-old singer and said she is owed more than $418,000 in unpaid royalties.
Cher was the second wife to the the musician-turned-politician, and during their marriage, they were famously known as the singing duo Sonny & Cher.
Back in October 2021, Cher accused the former Congresswoman, 62, of withholding royalties over the 50 percent stake in the publishing catalog she agreed upon with the Sonny before his death in 1998.
In her original filing in the Los Angeles federal court, she was seeking more than $1 million she said she lost and claimed Mary terminated her rights to royalties without her knowledge.
Cher won her copyright lawsuit against Mary Bono, the widow of Sonny Bono, nearly three years after suing her. On Wednesday, a California judge ruled in favor of the 78-year-old singer and said she is owed more than $418,000 in unpaid royalties
Back in October 2021, Cher accused the former Congresswoman, 62, of withholding royalties over the 50 percent stake in the publishing catalog she agreed upon with the Sonny before his death in 1998; seen in January 2014
In court documents obtained by People, the Wednesday ruling stated that Wixen Music Publishing, a full-service music publisher and licensor specializing in finding uncollected and underpaid royalties, gave $187,000 to Sonny’s heirs but not Cher.
Of the six-figure number, $93,500 was paid to Mary, and the music publishing company also held $418,156.82 in royalties that should have been paid to Cher.
In 1978, three years after Cher and Sonny divorced, the pair agreed that the Believe singer would get a 50 percent stake in their catalog as part of their settlement.
When Sonny passed away in a tragic skiing accident in 1998, Mary was appointed the administrator of his estate.
She and his four children, who are referred to collectively as ‘the heirs,’ then entered a partnership over the catalog.
According to Cher’s initial filing, Wixen Music Publishing began cutting and disbursing her cut of the royalties after they became in involved in 2011.
However, the Grammy winner claimed that Mary and the rest of the heirs used the Copyright Act and terminated the previously agreed-upon terms of the original arrangement.
Cher alleged the heirs utilized the ‘termination rights’ section of the Copyright Act, which allows songwriters or their heirs to win back control of their U.S. publishing rights after 35 years, without her ‘knowledge of participation.’
Cher was the second wife to the the musician-turned-politician, and during their marriage, they were famously known as the singing duo Sonny & Cher. In 1978, three years after Cher and Sonny divorced, the pair agreed that the Believe singer would get a 50 percent stake in their catalog; seen in 1977
When Sonny passed away in a tragic skiing accident in 1998, Mary was appointed the administrator of his estate. She and his four children, who are referred to collectively as ‘the heirs,’ then entered a partnership over the catalog; seen in 1998
In 2021, Cher alleged Mary used those rights to stop paying her her cut of the royalties.
Cher subsequently filed a lawsuit against Mary and the heirs.
In February, a tentative ruling was made and alongside Wednesday’s ruling, both were in Cher’s favor.
Previously, Sonny and Cher tied the knot in 1974 and were married for 10 years before their divorce.
They welcomed their child Chaz Bono in 1969. (He welcomed Christine ‘Christy’ Bono, his first child, with his first wife Donna Rankin in 1958.)
In 1975, Cher filed for divorce from Sonny, citing ‘involuntary servitude,’ and accused Sonny of withholding her earnings.
In 2021, Cher alleged Mary used those rights to stop paying her her cut of the royalties. Cher subsequently filed a lawsuit against Mary and the heirs. In February, a tentative ruling was made and alongside Wednesday’s ruling, both were in Cher’s favor
Previously, Sonny and Cher tied the knot in 1974 and were married for 10 years before their divorce. The pair were popularly known for being a singing duo, earning two Grammy nominations and selling over 40 million records worldwide in the 1970s; seen in 1968
In 1986, two years after divorcing his third wife Susie Coelho, Sonny married Mary in 1986. They welcomed son Chesare Elan Bono in 1988 and daughter Chianna Maria Bono in 1991
The pair were popularly known for being a singing duo, earning two Grammy nominations and selling over 40 million records worldwide in the 1970s.
Their variety show The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour aired from 1971 to 1974 before their separation and divorce.
In 1986, two years after divorcing his third wife Susie Coelho, Sonny married Mary in 1986.
They welcomed son Chesare Elan Bono in 1988 and daughter Chianna Maria Bono in 1991.
