Controversies
In 1976, an amendment was made to the Copyright Act that permits authors to terminate grants of copyright assignments and licenses that were made on or after January 1, 1978. Under Section 203 of the Copyright Act, artists may reclaim ownership of a work's copyright no earlier than 35 years after the grant was executed. However, artists may give notice of their intent to terminate as early as 25 years after the grant had been executed. In 2006, Steven Greenberg became the first American songwriter to file "notice of termination" under this act, in regard to Funkytown and the album it is a part of. Because the song was released in 1980, the earliest that Greenberg would actually have the copyright returned to him is in the year 2015. So far, Casablanca's successor (Universal Music Group) has had little to say on the matter. Their stance legally has been that the song was a "work for hire" which are not protected under the copyright amendment, with Greenberg playing the role of the employee. As the first major hit to be reviewed for termination, many artists across the country are eagerly awaiting the outcome.
Preceded by "And the Beat Goes On" / "Can You Do the Boogie" / "Out the Box" by The Whispers |
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single (with "All Night Dancing") March 8, 1980 - March 15, 1980 |
Succeeded by "High on Your Love" / "Hot Hot (Give It All You Got)" by Debbie Jacobs |
Preceded by "High on Your Love" / "Hot Hot (Give It All You Got)" by Debbie Jacobs |
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single (with "All Night Dancing") March 29, 1980 - April 5, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Stomp!" by The Brothers Johnson |
Preceded by "Call Me" by Blondie |
US Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 31 - June 21, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)" by Paul McCartney |
Preceded by "Sun of Jamaica" by Goombay Dance Band |
Dutch Top 40 number-one single May 31, 1980 – June 14, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Cara Mia" by Jay and the Americans |
Preceded by "Der Nippel" by Mike Krüger |
Swiss number-one single June 15, 1980 - August 2, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra |
Preceded by "What's Another Year" by Johnny Logan |
Belgian Singles Chart number one single June 21, 1980 - June 27, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Cara Mia" by Jay and the Americans |
Preceded by "Der Nippel" by Mike Krüger |
German Singles Chart June 27, 1980 - August 29, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra |
Preceded by "Stomp!" by The Brothers Johnson |
New Zealand Singles Chart July 11, 1980 |
Succeeded by "The Loco-Motion" by Ritz |
Preceded by "Coming Up" by Paul McCartney |
Canadian Singles Chart July 12, 1980 - July 19, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Little Jeannie" by Elton John |
Preceded by "Aloha ʻOe" by Goombay Dance Band |
Austrian number-one single August 1, 1980 - September 15, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra |
Preceded by "Can't Stop the Music" by Village People |
Australian Kent Music Report number-one single (original Lipps Inc. version) August 4, 1980 - August 11, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Moskau" by Dschinghis Khan |
Preceded by "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra |
Norwegian VG-lista number-one single August 22, 1980 – August 27, 1980 |
Succeeded by "Forelska i lærer'n"" by The Kids |
Read more about this topic: Funkytown