22/04/2026
Please take a moment to read what Claude has had to endure. It’s sad that artists have to fight for what should be theirs in the first place.
It's coming up on one year, and people still DM me asking me where Peace is in the USA. So please do me a solid, and share this post with as many people as you can. It's important, and I want YOU and the world to know what is going on. Basically? I'm suing Sony. It's about time, too. It's been a long 40+ year battle, and who am I but another independent artist seeking the return of their copyright!
I really want to know your thoughts on the following factual information contained in my lawsuit against them. Thus far, I've not gone full public, but this is about to change.
Here are the facts in my own words:
1) Every author has a right to have their copyrights reverted after 35 years. Congress did that so non-exploited work, or as in my case, work being buried, could have a second life with the author. I filed my reversions (because there are two) to every party involved. I hold TWO certificates from The Library of Congress that shows this was done correctly and on time. As example of non-exploitation, all of the Anything Box remixes from 1990 onward still remain un-exploited. They bar me from using them, but Sony themselves does not exploit them; the very reason reversion of rights exists.
Congress says that reversion is a right that cannot be dismissed unless these rights were part of a will (No fu***ng way I'd ever do that), or that the recordings were Work For Hire (they 1000% are NOT and I have extensive proof).
2) For 33 years, Sony withheld accounting statements from me, despite many attempts by me to get this information. Just ONE statement post 1992 Termination. I Faxed, Mailed, Emailed, and called. All documented since 1994 to present day! They lied to the court, saying such things were 'timely sent' without showing proof. I have the contrary proof in my 300+ pages of exhibits. Clear Breach and I'd argue reasonable cause for sanctions in court.
3) Sony claims the Peace album is unrecouped. Sony established a system in 2021 that forgives un-recouped balances and sets them to zero, finally earning artists like me $$$. This means that from from 2021 to 2025 Peace earned over 27K. Sony did not pay me these funds. They sent these funds to someone else. I have the tea on all of this. Every last detail. Clear Breach, documented.
4) Sony issued Peace on Vinyl but used a shoddy master. I found out the reason. They mishandled the archiving of my masters, causing them to be irrecoverably lost. The cover painting was discovered to be Mold Damaged. This is a breach of contract. Their duty was to send these to me and no one else. Clear breach.
5) My Reversion took effect in March of 2024, and as such, it means Sony has been exploiting my work without permission. Never mind that they continue to demonetize me an my own songs, even when they are re-recorded versions or performances. They still take what little cash these videos earn, both here in the USA and especially abroad. Sony removed Peace from Spotify in the US, but it is still monetizing worldwide with impunity.
6) Recent court rulings established that Copyright that was granted internationally via contract here in the USA, is indeed subject to reversion internationally (Vetter), so Sony's exploitation of Peace through streaming and downloads abroad is indeed infringement as I stated in my filing.
Now you know. If you have access to Pacer. Take a look at
Strilio v. Sony Music Entertainment, 1:25-cv-04006-LAP (SDNY)...
~ Claude S. //:\ Anything Box
If anyone from the media would like to speak to me about my case or other artists' rights in this age of Ai (Such as corporations attempting to change Copyright laws to allow for more exploitation of independent artists), you can contact me here:
[email protected]
