Music publishers sue Twitter for $250M for allowing copyrighted songs
Music Publishers Sue Twitter for Copyright Infringement
In a significant legal battle, a group of 17 music publishers has filed a lawsuit against Twitter in Nashville federal court. The publishers, including industry heavyweights Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, and Universal Music Publishing Group, accuse the social media platform of enabling the unauthorized posting of music by its users. The lawsuit asserts that Twitter’s failure to obtain licenses for these musical compositions has resulted in thousands of copyright violations.
The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is leading the litigation and seeking damages of over $250 million for the alleged infringement of nearly 1,700 copyrighted works. The lawsuit contends that the problem has worsened since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October. Meanwhile, other major platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube have been complying with licensing agreements and properly compensating the publishers for the use of their music.
Among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are several high-profile artists, including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, the Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, and Rihanna. These artists, along with many others, claim that Twitter’s practices regarding unlicensed music posts are detrimental to their interests.
Twitter, as of now, has not provided an immediate response to the allegations made against them. The plaintiffs argue that Twitter selectively ignores instances of repeat infringement, allowing users to continue posting tweets containing unlicensed music. This behavior, the publishers say, supports increased user engagement and ad revenues for Twitter, granting the company an “unfair advantage” over platforms that properly obtain licenses for music usage.
The NMPA President, David Israelite, condemned Twitter’s refusal to secure licenses for the millions of songs on its platform, stating that the company “stands alone” in its defiance. The publishers also highlight the turmoil within Twitter, citing significant reductions in the company’s legal and trust-and-safety teams since Musk gained control.
In light of these developments, the music publishing industry is closely watching the lawsuit and its potential implications for the enforcement of copyright on social media platforms.
FAQs:
Q: What is the lawsuit about?
A: The lawsuit filed by music publishers accuses Twitter of allowing users to post music without a license, resulting in thousands of copyright violations.
Q: Who are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit?
A: The plaintiffs include notable artists such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, the Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, and Rihanna.
Q: How much in damages are the music publishers seeking?
A: The publishers are seeking over $250 million in damages for the alleged infringement of nearly 1,700 copyrights.
Q: How has Twitter responded to the lawsuit?
A: Twitter has not provided an immediate response to the allegations.
Q: How do the publishers claim Twitter benefits from unauthorized music postings?
A: The publishers argue that Twitter’s allowance of unlicensed music posts increases user engagement and ad revenues, giving the platform an unfair advantage over competitors that properly obtain music licenses.
Q: Are other major social media platforms licensing music appropriately?
A: According to the lawsuit, platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube have been complying with licensing agreements and ensuring proper compensation for the use of music.
Q: What impact could the lawsuit have on copyright enforcement?
A: The lawsuit’s outcome could have significant implications for the enforcement of copyright on social media platforms, as it highlights the responsibilities of these platforms to prevent copyright infringement.
Twitter faces $250M lawsuit from music publishers for copyright infringement
A coalition of 17 music publishers has filed a lawsuit against Twitter in a federal court in Nashville, Tennessee. The publishers, including Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, and Universal Music Publishing Group, are accusing the social media platform of enabling copyright violations by allowing users to post music without proper licensing. The lawsuit alleges that Twitter facilitates the spread of countless infringing copies of musical compositions, resulting in significant damages of over $250 million for the infringement of nearly 1,700 copyrights. The publishers claim that the problem has become worse since Elon Musk acquired Twitter last October, highlighting that other major platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube properly license music from publishers. Notably, artists such as Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are among those represented in the lawsuit. Twitter has yet to respond to the allegations. According to the publishers, Twitter routinely ignores repeat infringement by users who share unlicensed music, suggesting that the platform encourages such acts to boost user engagement and advertising revenues, giving it an unfair advantage over platforms that pay for music licenses. The publishers also argue that Twitter’s internal affairs are in disarray, mentioning significant cuts to the company’s legal and trust-and-safety teams since Musk’s takeover. Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage on this topic.