Policies

The MLC’s dispute policies are intended to facilitate the timely and efficient resolution of disputes directly among impacted parties. The MLC established these policies for resolving musical works ownership disputes under the guidance of the Dispute Resolution Committee, as required in the Music Modernization Act of 2018 (MMA).

The MLC’s Catalog Transfer Policy (effective October 9, 2024)

The Catalog Transfer Policy outlines the standard procedures The MLC uses to (a) analyze catalog transfer requests, (b) administer royalties for works, or shares of works that are subject to a catalog transfer, and (c) address conflicts and disputes that arise in the catalog transfer process. 

Click here to read the current version of the Catalog Transfer Policy and here to read the original version. To see a comparison of the current Catalog Transfer Policy to the original version click here.  Additional information about The MLC’s catalog transfer process can be found here.

To initiate a Catalog Transfer, please submit a completed Catalog Transfer Form found here.

Ownership Dispute Policy

The Ownership Dispute Policy addresses disputes between or among copyright owners related to ownership claims of musical works (i.e., what we do when there is a disagreement about who owns the copyright to a song). To read the full Ownership Dispute Policy click here.

Also, if you are unable to register a share of a work because another party is already claiming all or part of the same share resulting in a conflict, then you may seek to resolve the conflict through a conflict procedure as outlined in the Ownership Dispute Policy. To give notice to The MLC of a conflict, click here.

Statutory Terminations Policy

The Statutory Terminations Policy outlines the standard procedures the Mechanical Licensing Collective (“The MLC”) uses to (1) review and address Termination Claims, (2) administer Royalties for Works/Shares that are subject to Termination Claims, and (3) address Termination Disputes. 

To read the full Statutory Terminations Policy click here.  Click here to access the Termination Notice Form required to initiate a Termination Claim.

Please click here to visit our website page dedicated to this topic and related Frequently Asked Questions.