Music industry legal news

Live Nation fights back in antitrust battle with US government

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Live Nation • 3 min read

Live Nation fights back in antitrust battle with US government

Live Nation has launched its first salvo to counter the US government’s antitrust lawsuit presenting technical defences, disputing DoJ claims over a ‘tying arrangement’ and arguing that claims made under state law are “threadbare and conclusory”…

Chris Cooke • 19 Jul 2024

Sony Music’s $600 million Michael Jackson deal set to progress after court rejects his mother’s objections

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Michael Jackson • 2 min read

Sony Music’s $600 million Michael Jackson deal set to progress after court rejects his mother’s objections

Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine Jackson has been working hard to block Sony Music’s proposed deal to buy half of the late pop star’s music catalogue. However, a US appeals court has tentatively sided with executors of the Jackson estate, ruling they have the power to close that deal…

Chris Cooke • 19 Jul 2024

Kanye West and Snoop Dogg sued over uncleared samples and beats

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Kanye • 2 min read

Kanye West and Snoop Dogg sued over uncleared samples and beats

Both Kanye West and Snoop Dogg are facing new lawsuits over uncleared samples and beats. West is accused of using a sample on two ‘Donda’ tracks after a licence request was rejected. Snoop’s accuser says he did provide the rapper with two instrumentals, but only for use in the studio…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jul 2024

TikTok owner is a gatekeeper subject to extra regulation, EU court rules

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TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok owner is a gatekeeper subject to extra regulation, EU court rules

Last year the European Commission said that TikTok should be deemed a ‘gatekeeper’ platform under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, and is therefore subject to extra regulation. TikTok disagreed, but an EU court has upheld that decision…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jul 2024

Kakao founder faces arrest in SM share manipulation probe

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Kakao • 1 min read

Kakao founder faces arrest in SM share manipulation probe

The dramas continue following last year’s battle between Kakao and HYBE for control of SM Entertainment. HYBE accuses Kakao execs of illegal stock manipulation during the takeover battle. South Korean prosecutors now want to arrest Kakao founder Kim Beom-su in relation to those allegations…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jul 2024

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Irv Gotti • 1 min read

Murder Inc founder accused of rape

Irv Gotti has been accused of rape and sexual assault in a new lawsuit, filed by a woman who says she entered into an abusive relationship with the music producer and Murder Inc Records co-founder after they met in 2020…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jul 2024

PornHub owner secures web-blocking injunction in the US Courts, sort of

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PornHub • 3 min read

PornHub owner secures web-blocking injunction in the US Courts, sort of

A US court has issued a web-blocking order as part of a copyright dispute involving Pornhub owner Aylo. Web-blocking is not usually available as an anti-piracy tactic in the US, although can sometimes be achieved as part of wider sanctions following a successful copyright infringement action…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jul 2024

⏩ One Liners: Deals + Appointments, Legal, Live: Round Hill Music, Morgan Wallen, RCA Records + more

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One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 4 min read

⏩ One Liners: Deals + Appointments, Legal, Live: Round Hill Music, Morgan Wallen, RCA Records + more

Bucks Music x Little Barrie, Inverted Music x John Mills-Cockel, Morgan Wallen management deal, Round Hill x Brandon Day, Irruk Birruk, RCA x BERWYN, InsideOutMusic x Jakub Zytecki, Muse Group appointments + legal and live round-up…

CMU • 15 Jul 2024

Verizon is latest ISP to be sued by the major record companies

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Verizon • 2 min read

Verizon is latest ISP to be sued by the major record companies

The major record companies have sued Verizon for copyright infringement for not doing enough to deal with repeat infringers on its networks. It’s the latest American ISP to be sued by the music industry following precedent set in BMG’s legal battle with Cox Communications…

Chris Cooke • 15 Jul 2024

Hal Leonard hits back at Wise Music in sheet music licensing dispute

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Hal Leonard • 4 min read

Hal Leonard hits back at Wise Music in sheet music licensing dispute

High drama in the cut-throat world of sheet music, as Wise Music and Hal Leonard have a set-to over the terms of a 2018 deal. Highlights include a particularly acerbic back and forth about who buys the sheet music of Christmas choral compositions, and when. Spoiler: not in the summer, dumbo.…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 15 Jul 2024

Beastie Boys sue Chili’s over social media video

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Beastie Boys • 2 min read

Beastie Boys sue Chili’s over social media video

US restaurant chain Chili’s has been sued by the Beastie Boys over a promotional video posted to social media that featured their track ‘Sabotage’ without permission. The rap group says Chili’s infringed the copyrights in their song and the band’s trademarks in its social media marketing…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jul 2024

Majority of subscription websites and apps employ ‘dark patterns’, says two new reports

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Digital services and platforms news • 2 min read

Majority of subscription websites and apps employ ‘dark patterns’, says two new reports

Two new reports say that most subscription websites and apps employ dark patterns, design techniques that manipulate consumers when making buying or data decisions. The reports are published as criticism mounts over how Spotify is currently hiding its 10.99 audiobook free subscription product…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jul 2024

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