Counterclaims FAQ

If CMRRA receives notification of rights holders’ shares that exceed 100% for a work, or more than one rights holder’s claims conflict for the same writer, CMRRA will place the work in a “potential dispute” status and inform the claimants involved of the confliction information. If no response or claim amendments are received that would resolve the conflict, the work will be placed in a formal dispute status.

Please email [email protected] with any questions, amendments or revisions.

CMRRA contacts all parties involved in the disputed shares. CMRRA works pro-actively to verify if new claim information is available from rights holders, in the hopes of eliminating the need to place a song into counterclaim status.

To resolve a counterclaim, rights holders must contact the conflicting parties to work towards a resolution, provided their amended claim or relinquishment does not resolve the counterclaim.

CMRRA does not actively participate in the resolution of counterclaims, and our records will remain on hold until we receive written confirmation from the claimants to amend the information on file. Once this confirmation is received and the conflict is resolved, you will receive an email advising that the conflict is resolved.

Once contacted, CMRRA gives 10 business days to respond and confirm a claim. After 10 days, the counterclaim department will begin the process of placing titles into dispute. If you need more time to gather information to support your claim or find a resolution, please request an extension.
Once a title is placed into dispute, it will remain in dispute status indefinitely until CMRRA receives written claim amendments.

No. CMRRA must receive written confirmation directly from the conflicting rights holder.

Rights holders can find a list of current titles that are in a formal dispute status by logging into CMRRA Direct.

• After logging in, please choose the account number you wish to search for (under User Details) and save.
• Under the Works and Licenses tab, click the third option down, “Dispute Management.”
• Click the “Download” button at the bottom of the page to download all disputes associated with the chosen account number.

For catalogue counterclaims, if the Original Claimant wishes to maintain its claim, it will have 30 days to provide documentation to CMRRA to support such claim. Royalties will continue to flow to the Original Claimant during this 30-day period.

If the Original Claimant provides documentation to maintain its claim during this period, CMRRA will place the catalogue account in dispute status and all subsequent royalties will be held from distribution. CMRRA will not interpret documents and/or attempt to determine the correct owner/administrator for the disputed catalogue. The dispute must be resolved between the interested parties.

If, however, the Original Claimant does not provide documentation during the 30-day period, CMRRA will change its records in favour of the new claimant and royalties will be paid to the new claimant in our next distribution. If a claimant needs more time to obtain proper documentation to support their claim, please request an extension.

Please contact [email protected] for any catalogue level counterclaims.

CMRRA sends out monthly Potential Dispute lists to verify this information. Rights holders must send back the list with their amendments or relinquishments. CMRRA does not actively participate in the resolution of disputes. It is the responsibility of all conflicting parties to find a resolution.

If a rights holder receives a notification, please respond to confirm the claim and contact the conflicting parties to work towards a resolution. If no response or claim amendments are received that would resolve the conflict within 10 business days, we will update our records to reflect each party’s claim and place the work in a formal dispute status.

When a new claimant comes forward with a claim to a catalogue currently registered to another party (the “Original Claimant”), CMRRA will seek instructions from the Original Claimant on if they maintain, revise, or relinquish their claims to that catalogue.

CMRRA reserves the right, in an effort to assist the parties in resolving the conflict, and at any time during the conflict resolution process, to request claimants to submit relevant documentation to support their claim. However, CMRRA does not otherwise actively participate in the resolution of counterclaims or disputes.

This information may help to resolve a conflict and prevent royalties from being held unnecessarily.

For any royalty questions, such as how much money has been held throughout the dispute, please contact [email protected].

CMRRA does not provide legal advice. If you believe that someone has stolen your music, please consult an entertainment lawyer.

If you have any inquiries regarding YouTube, please contact [email protected].