Judge declines to dismiss, but nevertheless trims down, Cher’s royalties lawsuit against Sonny Bono’s widow
The judge overseeing a dispute between Cher and Sonny Bono’s widow has declined to dismiss the former’s lawsuit, although he has trimmed it down somewhat.The dispute centres on how the pesky termination right in US copyright law impacts on a deal done in the 1970s after Cher and Bono split up both professionally and personally.Cher and Bono began working together in the early 1960s, subsequently marrying and then enjoying much success together in both music and on TV. However, the marriage ended in 1975, and their double act came to an end soon after.Following all that, a deal was done in 1978 that provided Cher with a 50% share in the royalties being generated by the recordings and songs that had been released during the couple’s time together, professionally and personally.