Merrill v. Hyman

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT SUZANNE MERRILL, Plaintiff, v. No. 3:21-cv-551 (JAM) FREDERICK L. HYMAN et al., Defendants. RULING ON CROSS-MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Bob Merrill wrote the lyrics to a popular musical. But years ago, he signed away some of his future royalties to a producer named Eliot Hyman. Merrill’s widow, the plaintiff Suzanne Merrill, regrets that deal and would like to terminate it. She believes that the Copyright Act lets her. But Hyman’s heirs read the law differently. I agree with the Hymans. Although Merrill may terminate her late husband’s…