Bell v. Philadelphia International Records

OPINION ON SUMMARY JUDGMENT

STEPHEN WM. SMITH, United States Magistrate Judge.

This dispute is before the court on defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Dkt. 74). After consideration of the parties’ submissions, argument at a hearing on September 30, 2013, and the law, the motion is granted.1

Background

Plaintiff Archie Bell is a recording artist who in 1968 had a hit song called “Tighten Up” with his group Archie Bell & The Drells. “Tighten Up” was recorded on the Ovide Records label, which subsequently sold its song catalog to Atlantic Records. Neither Ovide or Atlantic are defendants in…