Eden Music Corp. v. Times Square Music Publications Co.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Asch, J.

Clyde Otis is the controlling principal of plaintiffs Eden Music Corporation and Prentice Music, Inc., music publishing companies. In 1973, these corporations owned and controlled over 1,000 copyrighted songs including many composed by Otis, in whole or in part. To facilitate the exploitation of these songs they entered, in that year, into separate agreements with the New York Times Music Corporation and Music of the Times Publishing Corporation.

The contracts involved the sale of a one-half interest in the songs owned by Eden and Prentice for a total price of…