Court Dismisses Salt-N-Pepa Lawsuit Accusing UMG of Violating Copyright Act

Salt-N-Pepa have reached a dead end in their lawsuit against Universal Music Group. Last year, the rap duo filed a suit alleging the company was holding their music “hostage” by not allowing them to reclaim control of their music’s intellectual property 35 years after its release, a violation of the Copyright Act. UMG later filed a motion to have the case dismissed “for failure to state a claim.” The motion was granted by District Judge Denise Cote in United States District Court — Southern District of New York.

“While we are gratified that the court dismissed this baseless lawsuit, it should never have been brought in the first place,” a Universal Music Group spokesperson shared in a statement to Rolling Stone. “Prior to this suit — and without any legal obligation to do so — we made multiple attempts to resolve the matter amicably, improve the artists’ compensation, and ensure that Salt-N-Pepa’s fans had access to their music.”

In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, Salt-N-Pepa commented, “We respectfully disagree with the Court’s decision and fully intend to pursue our rights on appeal. We, Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, also known as the Hip Hop icons Salt-N-Pepa, are the creative and driving force behind all our sound recordings and have performed these songs over the past 40 years. We remain committed to vindicating and reclaiming our rights as creators under the Copyright Act.”

When the suit was initially filed, legal representatives for the group told Rolling Stone, “This fight is about more than contracts — it’s about legacy, justice, and the future of artist ownership.” In November, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. During their acceptance, they addressed the legal battle by acknowledging the removal of their music from streaming services.

“As we celebrate this moment, fans can’t even stream our music. It’s been taken down from all streaming platforms because the industry still doesn’t want to play fair,” James said. “Salt-N-Pepa have never been afraid of a fight. This is the Influence Award. We have to keep using our influence until the industry honors creativity the way the audience does — with love, respect, and fairness — and that includes streaming platforms too.”
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According to a spokesperson for UMG, reconciliation may come in other forms in the future. “Even with the court’s complete rejection of their claims, we remain open and willing to find a resolution to the matter and turn the page so we can focus our efforts on working together to amplify Salt-N-Pepa’s legacy for generations to come,” the statement concluded.

This story was updated on Jan. 9, 2026 with a statement from Salt-N-Pepa.