Opinion ID: 866348
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: In 1974, songwriter, recording artist, producer, and performer Abrim Tilmon, Jr. (“Tilmon”), composed the song “You’re Getting a Little Too Smart” (“Smart”).1 In 1976, Tilmon assigned all of his rights to the song to Plaintiff Bridgeport Music, Inc. (“Plaintiff”). In 1997, Defendant rapper Rashaam A. Smith a/k/a Esham A. Smith released the song “You & Me,” which, according to Plaintiffs Bridgeport, Southfield Music Inc., and Westbound Records, Inc. (“Plaintiffs”), unlawfully contained samples of the composition “Smart.” In 2003, Plaintiffs sued Defendants Esham Smith; Overture Music, LLC; Psychopathic Records, Inc.; Red Music Distribution; Reel Life Productions, Inc.; and Scott Santos (“Defendants”) for copyright infringement. In 2004, Plaintiffs obtained default judgments against Defendants. In 2005, Plaintiffs recorded the judgments with the United States Copyright Office. In 2011, Janyce Tilmon-Jones (“Tilmon-Jones”), Tilmon’s widow and a nonparty to this lawsuit, filed a motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b) in the action, asking the district court to set aside the default judgments because she, not Plaintiffs, was the legal owner of the copyright by operation of law at the time the lawsuit was filed.2 The district court denied the motion, as well as her motion for reconsideration. Tilmon-Jones appeals both of those rulings. For the reasons discussed below, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court. 1 Tilmon was also a founding member and lead singer for the musical group the Detroit Emeralds. The R&B group performed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. 2 Tilmon died in 1982, during the initial copyright interest period. Plaintiffs’ copyright interest in the initial copyright expired as of December 31, 2002, and at that point the renewal copyright interest in “Smart” reverted to Tilmon-Jones by operation of law. See 17 U.S.C. § 304(a)(1)(C); Roger Miller Music, Inc. v. Sony/ATV Publ’g, LLC, 672 F.3d 434, 437-39 (6th Cir. 2012). No. 12-1523 Bridgeport Music, et al. v. Smith, et al. Page 3 Plaintiffs have filed a motion for damages and costs pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 38 and 28 U.S.C. § 1912, which we GRANT.