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A judge’s February 2024 tentative ruling favoring Cher was not the end of the Mary Bono royalties case. The court later ruled that a 2016 copyright termination notice did not erase Cher’s specified rights under her 1978 agreement with Sonny Bono, and its November 2025 final judgment awarded her $187,534.91 in composition royalties Mary Bono had received and retained, plus prejudgment interest. A separate 2026 report says Cher was denied reimbursement of more than $1 million in legal fees.
What was the Cher–Mary Bono royalties dispute about?
Cher sued Mary Bono, Sonny Bono’s widow and estate representative, over royalty rights established in Cher and Sonny Bono’s 1978 Marriage Settlement Agreement. The dispute centered on whether a September 30, 2016 notice under section 304(c) of the Copyright Act could terminate rights Cher held under that agreement. Cher filed suit in October 2021.
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The case concerned defined composition and record royalties and related approval rights—not every royalty connected to Sonny Bono’s music. The court’s final judgment described the specific rights it recognized.
What did the court ultimately decide?
The 2024 summary judgment ruling
On May 29, 2024, the court granted Cher summary judgment on her declaratory-relief claim and found Mary Bono liable for breach of contract for diverting disputed royalties. The order also addressed other issues raised in the parties’ cross-motions, but the damages award came later. Read the May 29, 2024 order.
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- A brand new, expansive career-spanning compilation of Cher’s remarkable journey on 2LP Crystal Clear Vinyl with Silver Foil Cover. The first such collection on vinyl since 1992, it features a carefully curated and remastered tracklist of 21 songs sure to please longtime Cher fans and new converts, including “Believe”, “If I Could Turn Back Time”, “The Shoop Shoop Song”, “Strong Enough” and many more. Some things are temporary, but Cher is FOREVER.
The 2025 final judgment
On November 26, 2025, the court entered final judgment declaring that the 2016 termination notice did not affect the agreement’s recognition of Cher’s community-property rights or its assignment to her of defined composition and record royalties. The judgment specified Cher’s undivided 50% interests in those categories and her approval rights over third-party contracts concerning the compositions. Read the final judgment.
The court also awarded Cher $187,534.91 in composition royalties that Mary Bono had received and retained. The judgment set prejudgment interest at 7% per year from February 1, 2022, through entry of judgment. That award is distinct from the broader declaration of rights: it is a damages figure for the composition royalties identified in the judgment.
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Who controls the royalty administrator?
The judgment did not give Cher control over royalty administration. Mary Bono may select the administrator, subject to the rights of Sonny Bono’s four children. Cher may raise reasonable objections to contract terms, including administration fees and the administrator’s credentials and qualifications. The final judgment sets out the administration terms.
How the case moved from tentative ruling to final judgment
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1978 | Cher and Sonny Bono entered the Marriage Settlement Agreement establishing the royalty interests later disputed. |
| September 30, 2016 | Mary Bono and others served a termination notice under section 304(c) of the Copyright Act. |
| October 2021 | Cher filed suit over the agreement and the disputed royalties. |
| February 2024 | A news report described a tentative ruling favoring Cher on the parties’ summary judgment motions. It was not the final judgment. Read Spectrum News’ report. |
| May 29, 2024 | The court granted Cher summary judgment on declaratory relief and found Mary Bono liable for breach of contract. |
| November 26, 2025 | The court entered final judgment, including the declaration of rights, damages, interest, and rulings on other claims. |
| July 2026 | USA TODAY reported that the court denied Cher’s request for reimbursement of more than $1 million in legal fees. |
What happened with Cher’s legal-fee request?
A July 22, 2026 USA TODAY report, republished by AOL, says the judge denied Cher’s request to recover more than $1 million in attorney fees. The report says Cher must bear her own legal fees; it does not say she was ordered to pay Mary Bono’s fees. This is a separate fee decision, not a reversal of the royalty judgment. Read the AOL-republished USA TODAY report.
What is known about the judgment’s current status?
The cited materials establish the November 2025 final judgment and the reported 2026 fee ruling. They do not establish whether an appeal has changed the judgment or whether appellate proceedings are complete, so the judgment should not be described as affirmed or as beyond further review.
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