22 — ABKCO Music & Records, Inc.

Needs attention

• The three active ABKCO catalogue entries for “Bittersweet Symphony” have empty copyright_types; confirm whether each entry asserts master rights, composition rights, or both. The DB establishes catalogue intersection, but not the estate(s) at issue.
• The only work-specific composition ownership statement found is for ABKCO Music, Inc., while the case owner is ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. No assignment, agency mandate for this case, or legal-identity link between those entities was found in the active library. The supporting settlement also says it is not an admission.
• The recording registration lead names Virgin Records America, Inc., not the case owner, and registers the Urban hymns album. Its coverage of the two claimed recording versions and any subsequent transfer to ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. are not established.
• Confirm authority covering this case. The available settlement documents evidence only dispute-specific authorization to Watchdog/Third Chair, not a general or ABK-22 mandate.

Rights by work

• Bittersweet Symphony — three distinct recording versions

  - Master: Not listed for this work in any of the three matching active catalogue entries. No master-rights conclusion can be made. The standard version is Bittersweet Symphony (ISRC QZMEM2492456); the TikTok claim also selects Bitter Sweet Symphony - Extended Version (GBAAA9710584) and Bitter Sweet Symphony - Remastered 2016 (GBUM71601816). Keep these recording versions distinct. The registration evidence described below is only a lead for the two latter ISRCs; it does not resolve their exact version coverage or link title to the case owner. - Composition: Not listed for this work in any of the three catalogue entries. A signed settlement for another dispute recites that ABKCO Music, Inc. is sole worldwide owner of the “Bittersweet Symphony” composition written by Richard Ashcroft, but it does not name ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. as owner or supply a transfer/authority bridge to this case owner. The settlement's §XV says it is a compromise and is not an admission. No composition conclusion for the case owner is established.

Posts

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Supporting documents

• ABKCO/Watchdog–Kraft Heinz settlement
  The preamble identifies the “Bittersweet Symphony” composition and recites ABKCO Music, Inc.'s worldwide ownership; it also says ABKCO authorized Watchdog for that Heinz dispute. §XV states the compromise is not an admission. It does not transfer rights to ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. or establish authority for ABK-22.
• AMI W9 2026.pdf and AMR W9 2026.pdf
  The name lines identify ABKCO Music, Inc. and ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. separately; the W-9s do not establish a rights transfer or agency relationship.
• Levi Strauss settlement
  Recites ABKCO Music & Records, Inc.'s ownership of the Under My Thumb sound recording and says ABKCO authorized Watchdog to resolve that specific dispute; it does not establish title in “Bittersweet Symphony” or a general mandate.
• Copyright registration SR0000289364
  Stored raw response identifies an album-level sound-recording registration and Virgin Records America, Inc. as claimant; see evidence note for the included track title and version/chain limits.