LOS ANGELES – A federal judge in Los Angeles has again ruled for Cher in her lawsuit claiming Sonny Bono’s widow owes her $1 million in royalties for Sonny & Cher songs, according to court papers obtained Tuesday by City News Service.

U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt wrote in a final judgment issued Nov. 26 that Mary Bono could not use the federal Copyright Act to reclaim the 50% share of Sonny’s composition royalties granted to Cher in her 1978 divorce agreement with Sonny.

Sonny Bono’s widow had tried to dissolve those rights for such 1960s hits as “I Got You Babe” and “The Beat Goes On,” plus Cher’s 50% share of recordings she made with Sonny.

Kronstadt also held that Cher retains her right to have her composition and record royalties paid directly to her, even though she sold the

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