No. 37Release & Reversion
Cure Period
Also called right to cure, notice and cure, remedy period, breach cure
A window of time given to the breaching party to fix a breach before termination can be triggered.
Neutral
Cure periods are standard and reasonable; the question is whether they are too long in key situations.
- Appears in
- Recording Agreement, Publishing Deal, Distribution Agreement
- Topic
- Deal Continuity
- Jurisdiction
- United States
- Reviewed
- July 2026
In plain English
A cure period is the time window, typically 30–60 days after receiving written notice of a breach, during which the breaching party can remedy the problem before the other party can terminate the contract. They apply symmetrically, both artist and label are entitled to cure periods before facing termination.
Why it matters
Cure periods are double-edged. They protect you if you accidentally breach a technical obligation; they also give the label time to avoid reversion triggers by rapidly releasing or exploiting recordings. Long cure periods can dilute reversion and termination rights.
Where it can land
The same clause is drafted three ways. These are the positions we see, worst first, so you can tell at a glance which one is in front of you.
- Cure period of 120+ days before termination can be exercised
- Cure period applies to release failures, delaying reversion indefinitely
- No limits on how many times the same breach can be 'cured'
- 60–90 day cure period (common, but push for 30 days for release failures)
- Cure period resets each time a new notice is given
- 30-day cure period for most breaches
- No cure period for failure to release, reversion is automatic
- Limit on repeated cures of the same breach type
The language
The drafting language and the negotiation moves for this clause are part of the workspace.
You have read what the clause means and where the risk sits. The rest is the side-by-side of how it reads when it is against you and when it is not, plus the specific moves that get it there.