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Freeplay sues CNN over music used in news reports
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 2 December 2022
CNN has been sued by production music firm Freeplay over allegations that the former used tracks from the latter’s music library without licence.
According to a lawsuit filed in the US courts, the news broadcaster used Freeplay music to soundtrack at least 283 segments that aired on its CNN Philippines, CNN Indonesia and CNN Chile channels.
Freeplay states in its lawsuit, Billboard reports: “As high-profile news media companies which strive to provide the best news product all across the world, CNN and the international parties know they must obtain a licence to use other’s intellectual property. Despite this, they willfully and consciously did not do so here on a breathtaking scale”.
The music firm is seeking damages of at least $17 million, stating that only a significant damages pay out will “get the attention of these media goliaths that continue to commit widespread infringement of FPM’s intellectual property”.
CNN is yet to comment on the litigation.
Freeplay previously sued Ford over its unlicensed use of the production music firm’s tracks in its promotional videos online. Ford hit back by arguing that Freeplay’s name and marketing was deliberately confusing, implying that music in its libraries could be used for free. For its part, Freeplay said Ford’s arguments were “disingenuous” and “frivolous”.
The Freeplay v Ford case was seemingly settled last year.
