Overview
- U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt entered a Nov. 26 final judgment barring the Sonny Bono estate from using copyright termination to undo Cher’s 1978 divorce share.
- The court confirmed Cher can receive composition and record royalties directly and retain approval rights over third‑party contracts despite her 2022 sale to Iconic Artists Group.
- Cher was deemed the prevailing party on nearly all claims and may recover costs, with the estate eligible for costs only on a narrow administrative issue.
- The estate won limited authority to select a royalties administrator, subject to Cher’s right to object to fees and qualifications.
- Mary Bono’s attorney said an appeal is forthcoming, arguing the court misapplied the law governing copyright terminations.