US Supreme Court to hear Warner Music case on limits to copyright damages

FILE PHOTO: Flo Rida performs during the KISS FM Jingle Ball in Chicago, Illinois December 9, 2013. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to clarify the time period for which plaintiffs can recover damages over copyright claims in a case involving a Miami music producer who sued Warner Music's Atlantic Records label after hip-hop artist Flo Rida made use of a 1980s song that he claims he owns.

The justices took up an appeal by two music publishing companies - Warner Music's Warner Chappell as well as Artist Publishing Group - of a lower court's ruling that defendants in copyright infringement cases can be held liable for actions that occurred prior to the three-year statute of limitations for filing such litigation.