Music industry legal news

Jay-Z’s bid to dismiss sexual assault lawsuit is “outrageous and unprecedented attempt” to silence his accuser, says lawyer

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Jay-Z • 2 min read

Jay-Z’s bid to dismiss sexual assault lawsuit is “outrageous and unprecedented attempt” to silence his accuser, says lawyer

Earlier this month Jay-Z called for the lawsuit that accuses him of rape to be dismissed and the lawyer who filed it to be sanctioned. That lawyer, Tony Buzbee, has now responded, calling Jay-Z’s motion for dismissal an “outrageous and unprecedented attempt” to silence his client…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jan 2025

French Supreme Court says bank had right to stop taking payments for file-storage platform on piracy grounds

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1fichier.com • 2 min read

French Supreme Court says bank had right to stop taking payments for file-storage platform on piracy grounds

In 2015, Société Générale stopped providing services to file-storage platform 1fichier.com because of complaints it hadn’t done enough to stop copyright infringement. It argued that copyright complaints were not grounds for cutting it off, but the French Supreme Court has now ruled that they were…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jan 2025

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sues for defamation over claims videos exist showing him sexually assaulting celebrities and minors

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Diddy • 1 min read

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sues for defamation over claims videos exist showing him sexually assaulting celebrities and minors

Diddy has sued a man who claims he has videos showing the musician sexually assaulting celebrities and minors. No such videos exist, Diddy claims in a defamation lawsuit that also targets news network NewsNation, which - it says - provided a platform for distributing the “outlandish claims”…

Chris Cooke • 23 Jan 2025

Suno’s content “obviously infringes copyrights” of prominent German songwriters says GEMA lawsuit

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Suno • 3 min read

Suno’s content “obviously infringes copyrights” of prominent German songwriters says GEMA lawsuit

GEMA has sued another AI company for copyright infringement. Having sued OpenAI last year, it has now filed a lawsuit against music AI platform Suno. While Suno has already been sued by the major labels in the US, this lawsuit will test the copyright obligations of the AI company under European law…

Chris Cooke • 21 Jan 2025

As TikTok gets 75-day reprieve, industry experts urge artists and labels to diversify social strategy

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TikTok • 4 min read

As TikTok gets 75-day reprieve, industry experts urge artists and labels to diversify social strategy

The TikTok ban in the US has been officially paused for 75 days by incoming President Donald Trump. However, the app’s future in the US remains uncertain, meaning artists should use those 75 days to strengthen their presence on other platforms and to also encourage fans to connect by email…

Chris Cooke • 21 Jan 2025

Nelly wants former bandmate’s lawyers sanctioned in dispute over ‘Country Grammar’ copyrights

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Nelly • 2 min read

Nelly wants former bandmate’s lawyers sanctioned in dispute over ‘Country Grammar’ copyrights

Last year Nelly was sued by a former bandmate who claimed he co-wrote songs on the musician’s 2000 debut album ‘Country Grammar’ but was never paid any royalties. Now Nelly’s team want the former bandmate’s lawyers sanctioned on the basis the copyright claim was “objectively frivolous”…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jan 2025

US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, app’s American future now in the hands of Donald Trump

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TikTok • 3 min read

US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, app’s American future now in the hands of Donald Trump

TikTok is due to be banned in the US on Sunday, after the country’s Supreme Court declined to block the law that instigates the ban. However, Donald Trump seems likely to intervene when he becomes President on Monday. He says, unhelpfully, “you’re going to see what I’m going to do”…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jan 2025

Universal put “corporate greed” before Drake’s safety, says defamation lawsuit filed over Kendrick Lamar diss track

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Drake • 5 min read

Universal put “corporate greed” before Drake’s safety, says defamation lawsuit filed over Kendrick Lamar diss track

Drake has sued his own label, Universal Music, for defamation over the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track ‘Not Like Us’, which the major also released. A lawsuit claims that the lyrics make defamatory allegations against Drake which have jeopardised the safety of the musician and his family…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jan 2025

As TikTok prepares for US shutdown, it’s still not clear if anyone will step in to halt the ban

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TikTok • 3 min read

As TikTok prepares for US shutdown, it’s still not clear if anyone will step in to halt the ban

TikTok says it will basically stop operating in the US entirely if a ban due to kick in on Sunday goes ahead. There are still various ways that the law that instigates that ban could be paused at the very last minute, but no one seems to know whether that will actually happen…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jan 2025

Jay-Z says “sham” rape allegations against him should be withdrawn, as Diddy accepts he’ll have to await trial in prison

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Diddy • 2 min read

Jay-Z says “sham” rape allegations against him should be withdrawn, as Diddy accepts he’ll have to await trial in prison

Jay-Z has again hit out at the attorney leading on a lawsuit that accuses the rapper of rape, saying an interview by his accuser shows the litigation “has no factual basis”. Meanwhile Diddy, co-defendant on that lawsuit, has given up trying to get bail as he awaits trial on criminal charges…

Chris Cooke • 18 Dec 2024

TikTok seeks help from Supreme Court and Donald Trump in latest bid to avoid January ban in the US

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TikTok • 3 min read

TikTok seeks help from Supreme Court and Donald Trump in latest bid to avoid January ban in the US

TikTok has turned to both the US Supreme Court and Donald Trump as it seeks to stop a ban that is due to come into effect in the US on 19 Jan. Meanwhile the EU is investigating if TikTok did enough to stop its platform being used to spread disinformation in the recent Romanian elections…

Chris Cooke • 18 Dec 2024

UK government proposes copyright exception to help make UK attractive to AI companies as part of new consultation

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

UK government proposes copyright exception to help make UK attractive to AI companies as part of new consultation

The UK government has formally proposed introducing a new copyright exception for AI companies that use existing content to train their models, but with an opt-out for copyright owners. The music industry will oppose that proposal via a consultation that the government has just opened…

Chris Cooke • 17 Dec 2024

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