Music industry legal news

Kanye’s “problematic behaviour” should not surprise anyone, say judges in Adidas lawsuit

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Kanye West • 2 min read

Kanye’s “problematic behaviour” should not surprise anyone, say judges in Adidas lawsuit

After the long-running partnership between Adidas and Kanye West fell apart in 2022, following the rapper’s antisemitic statements, a shareholder in the sportswear firm sued, claiming management there had failed to declare risks created by West’s misconduct. But a US court has rejected those claims…

Chris Cooke • 05 Dec 2025

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PacSun • 2 min read

PacSun latest brand to be sued over uncleared pop songs in TikTok posts

Another lawsuit against a brand that used pop songs in its social media videos without getting the necessary licences. Warner is suing fashion retailer PacSun, which - it says - is a sophisticated IP owner that should have understood its obligations to secure sync licences for its TikTok videos…

Chris Cooke • 03 Dec 2025

Stream-ripper Yout says Suno and Udio have criticism “precisely right” over ruling in legal battle with major labels

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Suno • 2 min read

Stream-ripper Yout says Suno and Udio have criticism “precisely right” over ruling in legal battle with major labels

Suno and Udio recently sought to intervene in the major labels’ legal dispute with stream-ripper Yout, because a ruling in that case impacts on their own legal battles with the majors. Yout has now welcomed that intervention, but the majors say the AI companies are wrong about stream-ripping rules…

Chris Cooke • 03 Dec 2025

Copyright safe harbour will be trashed if Cox wins Supreme Court appeal, say major labels

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Cox Communications • 3 min read

Copyright safe harbour will be trashed if Cox wins Supreme Court appeal, say major labels

The long running legal battle between ISP Cox and the major labels has finally reached the US Supreme Court. The outcome will impact on how the music industry fights online piracy. Indeed, the majors’ lawyer says if Cox wins, the long established copyright safe harbour will be “a dead letter”…

Chris Cooke • 02 Dec 2025

Kneecap sue MP who “lied to the world” about group’s Canada ban

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Kneecap • 3 min read

Kneecap sue MP who “lied to the world” about group’s Canada ban

Kneecap are suing Vince Gasparro, the Canadian MP who announced they were banned from the country in September. The group confirmed legal action was underway after it emerged the Canadian government was not involved in Gasparro’s announcement, despite him saying he was speaking for the government…

Chris Cooke • 01 Dec 2025

ECSA calls for transparency over the major’s AI deals - and confirmation songs and recordings will have parity

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ECSA • 3 min read

ECSA calls for transparency over the major’s AI deals - and confirmation songs and recordings will have parity

ECSA, representing songwriters and composers across Europe, has called for more transparency about the big AI deals now being announced by the majors. Writers need to know various things about those deals, but especially how income will be split between the recording rights and the song rights…

Chris Cooke • 28 Nov 2025

Canadian Prime Minister and border agency not involved in supposed Kneecap ban

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Kneecap • 3 min read

Canadian Prime Minister and border agency not involved in supposed Kneecap ban

Canada’s supposed Kneecap ban was in the spotlight in the Canadian Parliament this week. The country’s Prime Minister and border agency both said they were not involved in a September announcement by MP Vince Gasparro, who claimed the group had been banned from entering the country…

Chris Cooke • 27 Nov 2025

Johnny Cash estate uses ELVIS Act to sue Coke over tribute act ad soundtrack

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Johnny Cash • 3 min read

Johnny Cash estate uses ELVIS Act to sue Coke over tribute act ad soundtrack

The Johnny Cash estate has sued Coke over its use of a tribute act to provide vocals for a new ad campaign earlier this year. It is suing under Tennessee’s new ELVIS Act, which allows performers to stop unauthorised AI voice clones, but also applies when sound-a-like singers are employed…

Chris Cooke • 27 Nov 2025

German courts turn to EU judges to clarify key questions in UMG’s piracy battle with Cloudflare

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Cloudflare • 3 min read

German courts turn to EU judges to clarify key questions in UMG’s piracy battle with Cloudflare

Germany’s top court is reviewing a legal battle between Universal and Cloudflare, which began when the major sought a web-blocking order against piracy site DDL-Music. German judges have now asked the EU courts for guidance, which could impact on the industry’s wider battle with piracy in Europe…

Chris Cooke • 26 Nov 2025

Another class action is filed over the Apple Tax on music streaming, this time in France

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Apple • 3 min read

Another class action is filed over the Apple Tax on music streaming, this time in France

Another consumer rights group is suing Apple over its App Store rules regarding payments within music apps like the Spotify app. France’s CLCV says that Apple’s rules meant some music subscribers suffered “economic and moral harms”, including having to pay higher than necessary subscription fees…

Chris Cooke • 25 Nov 2025

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall ready to reset discussion on AI, but cautions creator friendly legal reform can’t be rushed

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall ready to reset discussion on AI, but cautions creator friendly legal reform can’t be rushed

The UK’s new Technology Secretary says she is “resetting the discussion” around copyright and AI, keen to reassure the creative industries their concerns are being heard by the government. Though don’t expect any immediate changes to copyright law, because “there’s a lot of detail to work out here”…

Chris Cooke • 24 Nov 2025

Megan Thee Stallion testifies in Milagro Gramz YouTube defamation battle

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Megan Thee Stallion • 2 min read

Megan Thee Stallion testifies in Milagro Gramz YouTube defamation battle

Megan Thee Stallion’s defamation battle with YouTuber Milagro Gramz has been in court this week. Yesterday the rapper delivered an emotionally charged testimony, explaining that Gramz “created a space for a lot of people to come speak negatively about me”, causing her considerable emotional distress…

Chris Cooke • 21 Nov 2025

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