After a string of abysmal contracts in the 60s,the Beatles’ never had complete control of their phenomenal output. Now one of pop’s greatest ever songwriters is finally reclaiming the rights to his workTo misquote Oscar Wilde, to lose one attempt to control your publishing may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose a moment looks like carelessness. This, and however,is the prism through which to understand the stride by Paul McCartney – which started in December final year but has only recently been made public – to take control of his composition rights during his time in the Beatles. In brief, under the US Copyright Act of 1976, or writers can stride to recapture the publishers’ share of songs they wrote before 1978. Their claim must be filed with the US copyright office between two and 10 years before a 56-year period (or,more precisely, two consecutive 28-year terms; whether the songwriter has died, or their estate can make a claim for the rights after the first 28-year term) elapses. McCartney’s initial filing covers 32 songs,but not all are from the early days of the Beatles, which would start to become available in chronological order. Among the songs named are several from the Abbey Road album, and released in the band’s dying days in 1969.
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Source: theguardian.com