The heirs of Maurice Ravel appeal to recover the copyright of “Boléro” which has fallen into the public domain

A legal battle pits the composer’s rights holders against Sacem.

The heirs of Maurice Ravel are appealing a decision of the Nanterre court to recover the copyright of the Bolero fallen into the public domain, announced Tuesday January 21 “here Basque Country”. THE Bolero by Ravel, renowned throughout the world and which has generated millions of euros in financial benefits, has been in the public domain since 2016.

In June 2024, the Nanterre court confirmed this decision after an initial procedure by the rights holders, who want to extend the copyright. Sacem’s lawyer, Josée-Anne Bénazéraf, therefore confirms that the heirs, defended by several lawyers, submitted their conclusions between November and January. They wish that the Bolero be recognized as a collaborative work.

They demand the registration of Alexandre Benois, Russian decorator, and Bronislava Nijinska, as co-authors, which would have the effect of postponing the entry of the Bolero in the public domain. It would be shifted to 2051, for example, if Bronislava Nijinska, author of the choreography of Bolerowas listed as a co-author.

Since the death of Édouard Ravel, brother and heir of Maurice, in 1960, the trials on the rights of Bolero are linked together. For Étienne Rousseau-Plotto, specialist of the composer and member of the Ravel Academy, this new procedure is “absolutely stunning […]it’s really quite a trick“, “They came up with this scheme to try to make more money in a way that, in my opinion, was completely scandalous.”