From Beyonce to Bohemia: Reforming Joint Copyright Ownership

Authors

William Frank Weber

Abstract

JaQuel Knight. Reading this name, for many, will give them no feeling of recognition. The same people that do not know his name will more than likely immediately recognize this next name, Beyonce. Her name immediately conjures up iconic images, songs, and music videos. She is a global star that has released six studio solo albums, all of which have reached number one on the U.S. Billboard charts.¹ Two of Beyonce's hit songs are "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and "Formation." "Formation," with its numerous Beyonce dance routines, the solo dance of a young, hooded boy in front of a line of police officers, and powerful message, won eleven different outstanding or best music video awards and currently has over 200 million views on YouTube.² "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" became an iconic music video, not only because of the hit song but also the familiar, and often imitated dance movements. The track won "best music video" at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards³ and accumulated over 800 million views on YouTube.⁴ Both of these music videos also won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography in a Video.⁵

First Page

372

Recommended Citation

William F. Weber, From Beyonce to Bohemia: Reforming Joint Copyright Ownership, 60 Duq. L. Rev. 372 (2022).
Available at: https://dsc.duq.edu/dlr/vol60/iss2/10