's Loren Wells Helps Secure Landmark Copyright Victory

Campus Communications Staff / Jan 14, 2026

head shot of loren wellsLoren Wells is an attorney and an associate professor at
A law firm co-founded by Associate Professor Loren Wells prevailed in a precedent-setting court decision that affirms music creators’ rights to reclaim their copyrights worldwide.

Chicago, IL (January 14, 2026) —  Loren Wells, an attorney and associate professor at , and his law partner Tim Kappel, secured a landmark appellate court ruling that significantly strengthens music creators’ rights on a global scale. The decision affirms that artists who exercise their U.S. copyright termination rights can reclaim ownership of their works on a worldwide basis.

The ruling in Vetter v. Resnik has been hailed as one of the most consequential developments in music copyright law in decades, a game-changer for creators’ rights that fundamentally reinterprets how termination rights under the U.S. Copyright Act should be understood and applied.

In the decision issued on January 12, 2026, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s judgment that a songwriter can reclaim worldwide rights after 35 years. Media companies have long argued that such rights should have effect in the U.S. only.

Wells & Kappel LLP, the law firm founded by Wells and Kappel, represented songwriter Cyril Vetter in the case; he co-wrote the1962 song “Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love).”

“This decision realigns the law with the fundamental principle that creators should have the opportunity to regain the full measure of their rights,” said Wells. “It’s about giving artists true ownership of their work on the world stage.”

Wells balances his legal practice with his role as an associate professor in ’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship, where he teaches courses including Music Industry Deals and Music Publishing. Drawing directly from his legal experience, Wells immerses students in real-world issues facing the music business today, bringing current precedent and industry standards into the classroom and practicum projects. Wells’s legal practice focuses primarily on transactional matters, representing artists, songwriters, and other creators in deals with record labels, music publishers, media companies, investors, creative participants, and more. The firm’s impactful work on Vetter furthers their efforts on behalf of the creative community.

Since joining Columbia in 2016, Wells has also led the Music Licensing Agency Practicum, a program that sends students to SXSW in Austin, Texas, to work as A&R representatives for a prominent music licensing company, Musicbed. His dual role as practitioner and educator enables students to see legal strategy and industry transformation in action, preparing the next generation of music business leaders.

Wells and Kappel’s contributions to the field have earned them national recognition: in 2025, they were named to “Variety’s” list of Music Legal Elite, a prestigious industry ranking of attorneys behind the music industry’s most impactful legal work. They are regularly quoted in music industry trades and their work has been covered in leading publications like Billboard, Variety, Music Business Worldwide, Forbes, and more.

The appellate ruling has broad implications for songwriters, composers, and rights holders, potentially enabling creators to reclaim and leverage their work more comprehensively across streaming and international markets.

 

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