3 Count: Four Recusals

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1: US Supreme Court Rejects Music Labels’ Challenge to Copyright Termination Ruling

First off, today, Blake Brittain at Reuters reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a copyright termination case after four of the nine justices recused themselves from it.

Copyright termination is a legal doctrine in the United States that allows original creators of copyrighted work to regain control of their copyright after a certain period of time. Songwriter Cyril Vetter sought to do exactly that, regaining control of his works. However, in something of a surprise decision, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that copyright termination rights applied not just to U.S. rights, but to international rights as well.

The labels appealed to the Supreme Court, hoping to overturn that decision. However, after four justices recused themselves from the case, the remaining five justices voted not to hear the case this term. As such, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision stands, at least for now.

2: Avi Hirschfield Sues Drake and UMG Over Alleged Copyright Infringement on “Janice STFU”

Next up today, Shawn Grant at The Source reports that Drake and Universal Music Group are facing a lawsuit filed by Grammy‑winning songwriter Avi Hirschfield over Drake’s May 2026 song “Janice STFU.”

Hirschfield had previously worked with Drake on his song “Heated,” but claims that he also worked on “Janice STFU” and even shared a completed recording with Drake’s producers. He claims that, despite Drake using elements from his work in the song, Drake has refused to give him credit or compensation.

The lawsuit seeks profits, damages, and legal fees over the alleged infringement. Hirschfield claims that “Janice STFU” is Drake’s biggest hit in years and has received over 300 million streams on Spotify.

3: Judge Says Amazon Must Face Direct and Vicarious Copyright Claims Over Merch on Demand Products

Finally, today, Eileen McDermott at IPWatchdog reports that a judge in Ohio has denied a motion of summary judgment for Amazon, setting the stage for a likely trial over whether the company is liable for copyright infringement over its print‑on‑demand business.

The lawsuit was filed by the T‑shirt company Weekend Warrior. It accused Amazon of printing and selling imitations of its designs via its print‑on‑demand service. Both sides filed for summary judgment, with Amazon claiming that the plaintiff had failed to prove legitimate copyright ownership of the designs in question.

However, the judge also denied Weekend Warrior’s request as well, saying that it was not clear if Amazon had actually copied the expression or if their actions rose to the level of copyright infringement. As such, the case is headed toward a likely trial.

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