Music industry legal news

Reggaeton singer Karol G accused of beat theft on 2022 track ‘Gatúbela’

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Karol G • 2 min read

Reggaeton singer Karol G accused of beat theft on 2022 track ‘Gatúbela’

Reggaeton star Karol G has been accused of ripping off an existing beat when making her track ‘Gatúbela’. Beatmaker Alfr3d Beats reckons it was ‘Gatúbela’ producer DJ Maff who accessed his beat on YouTube and then used it without permission, alleging that he admitted as much in an Instagram exchange…

Chris Cooke • 14 Mar 2025

University Of Southern California sued over uncleared music in sporty TikTok posts

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Sony Music • 2 min read

University Of Southern California sued over uncleared music in sporty TikTok posts

Another lawsuit has been filed over the uncleared use of music in TikTok and Instagram videos, because brands are not covered by the platforms’ general music licences. This time Sony is suing the University Of Southern California which used unlicensed tracks in videos promoting its sports teams…

Chris Cooke • 13 Mar 2025

Defamation lawsuit filed by former R Kelly assistant over Lifetime documentary fails because ‘Good Morning America’ appearance made her a public figure

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R Kelly • 3 min read

Defamation lawsuit filed by former R Kelly assistant over Lifetime documentary fails because ‘Good Morning America’ appearance made her a public figure

US broadcaster Lifetime was sued for defamation by a former PA to R Kelly, who claimed its ‘Surviving R Kelly’ programme portrayed her in a “sinister and defamatory light”. However, a judge has dismissed the case, claiming that the PA failed to demonstrate that Lifetime acted with “actual malice”…

Chris Cooke • 13 Mar 2025

Brazilian music publisher trade body must respond to antitrust concerns this week

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UBEM • 3 min read

Brazilian music publisher trade body must respond to antitrust concerns this week

Legal experts in Brazil say that an investigation into the role of Brazilian music publishing body UBEM in negotiating licensing deals for its members could have major implications for mechanical rights licensing in the country. UBEM must respond to Brazil’s competition regulator by this weekend…

Chris Cooke • 12 Mar 2025

NewJeans bumper PowerPoint doesn’t convince judge as court tells band to present stronger evidence for claims against Ador

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NewJeans • 3 min read

NewJeans bumper PowerPoint doesn’t convince judge as court tells band to present stronger evidence for claims against Ador

A court in Seoul last week considered a request by HYBE agency Ador for an injunction stopping NewJeans from entering into new deals while it pursues legal action to enforce its contract with the group. The judge told NewJeans to restructure their list of reasons for terminating their Ador deal…

Chris Cooke • 11 Mar 2025

Ultra vs Sony row continues as Moxey says “this is not about revenge”

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Ultra Music Publishing • 3 min read

Ultra vs Sony row continues as Moxey says “this is not about revenge”

Sony’s copyright battle with Patrick Moxey’s Ultra Music Publishing continues. The major claims that Moxey’s copyright lawsuit was filed in revenge after it sued him for trademark infringement. In a new filing, Ultra doubles down on its copyright claims and insists revenge has nothing to do with it…

Chris Cooke • 11 Mar 2025

Music rights investor wants Ed Sheeran’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ song theft dispute to go to USA’s highest court

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Ed Sheeran • 3 min read

Music rights investor wants Ed Sheeran’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ song theft dispute to go to USA’s highest court

The company that accused Ed Sheeran of ripping off Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ when writing ‘Thinking Out Loud’ wants the US Supreme Court to consider the case after the Second Circuit appeals court sided with Sheeran. It all swings on a copyright law technicality…

Chris Cooke • 10 Mar 2025

Arrests made in StubHub supplier fraud case that netted “extraordinary profit”

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StubHub • 3 min read

Arrests made in StubHub supplier fraud case that netted “extraordinary profit”

Earlier this week prosecutors in New York announced the arrest of two people involved in a $600,000 ticketing scam, one of whom exploited their position working for a supplier to StubHub. The ticket resale platform has since been keen to stress that it spotted and shut down the fraud…

Chris Cooke • 07 Mar 2025

LyricFind accuses Musixmatch of using Warner Chappell exclusivity deal to freeze competitors out of the lyrics licensing business

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LyricFind • 4 min read

LyricFind accuses Musixmatch of using Warner Chappell exclusivity deal to freeze competitors out of the lyrics licensing business

LyricFind has filed an antitrust lawsuit against competitor Musixmatch, alleging it created an exclusive deal with Warner Chappell specifically to block LyricFind's potential partnership with Spotify and monopolise the lyrics licensing market…

Chris Cooke • 06 Mar 2025

Search engines like Google make it too easy for consumers to discover pirated content say BBC and Sky

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Google • 3 min read

Search engines like Google make it too easy for consumers to discover pirated content say BBC and Sky

The UK’s Competition & Markets Authority has new powers to force ‘conduct requirements’ on big internet companies as a result of last year’s Digital Markets, Competition And Consumers Act. The BBC and Sky have told the CMA it should use those powers to force Google to do more to combat online piracy…

Chris Cooke • 05 Mar 2025

Drake wins key ruling in attempt to expose Universal Music marketing practices in Kendrick Lamar track dispute

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Drake • 3 min read

Drake wins key ruling in attempt to expose Universal Music marketing practices in Kendrick Lamar track dispute

Drake continues to push his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music, which also alleges that the major employed dubious marketing tactics when promoting Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’. Universal’s attempt to delay the case has failed, and Drake wants to depose one of the major’s marketing execs…

Chris Cooke • 05 Mar 2025

Jay-Z sues ‘Jane Doe’ rape accuser for defamation

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Jay-Z • 5 min read

Jay-Z sues ‘Jane Doe’ rape accuser for defamation

The woman who added Jay-Z as a co-defendant on a Diddy sexual assault lawsuit dismissed her litigation last month. Now Jay-Z is suing her - and her lawyer Tony Buzbee - for defamation. Meanwhile yet more lawsuits have been filed against Diddy, including one by former business partner Kirk Burrowes…

Chris Cooke • 04 Mar 2025

Music industry legal news coverage