Never Let Me Down Again

The recording of "Never Let Me Down Again" by Depeche Mode, released in 1987, falls under an 'uncertain' status regarding its sound recording copyright under the Music Modernization Act (MMA). This uncertainty arises because the MMA primarily addressed the pre-1972 sound recordings, bringing them under federal copyright protection. While recordings from 1972 onwards were already covered by federal law, the MMA did amend some aspects, particularly concerning digital performance rights and a uniform federal standard. However, without a specific fixation year provided, it's impossible to definitively apply the precise MMA term rules, which often depend on publication and fixation dates. Depeche Mode's recording of "Never Let Me Down Again" was widely released in 1987 on their album 'Music for the Masses' and as a single by Mute Records (in the UK) and Sire Records (in the US). Recordings from this era are generally subject to federal copyright protection for sound recordings under the 1976 Copyright Act, which grants a term of 95 years from publication for works made for hire. While the MMA did not retroactively change the term for post-1972 recordings, it did consolidate some aspects of sound recording copyright into 17 U.S.C. § 1401. However, the rule engine's 'uncertain' status suggests a lack of a definitive fixation year in its data, which is crucial for a precise application of federal copyright duration, even for post-1972 works.