Music industry legal news

TikTok and X “neutral” on social media ban for under-sixteens, as UK government tests options for restricting access

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• 3 min read

TikTok and X “neutral” on social media ban for under-sixteens, as UK government tests options for restricting access

The debate over banning younger UK teens from using social media continues. The House Of Lords supports a ban, but the government wants more time to review the matter and is now testing possible options for restricting access. Meanwhile, TikTok and X say they are “neutral” on any possible ban…

Chris Cooke • 26 Mar 2026

Equality Commission expects festival promoters to review event accessibility, after taking action against Live Nation

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Live Nation • 2 min read

Equality Commission expects festival promoters to review event accessibility, after taking action against Live Nation

In 2023 the Equality And Human Rights Commission took action against Live Nation over accessibility issues at its festivals. The live music company committed to a number of improvements that have now been implemented. The EHRC has urged other festivals to review accessibility at their own events…

Chris Cooke • 25 Mar 2026

Claude’s AI lyrics cause market dilution, say music publishers calling for courts to reject fair use defence

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Anthropic • 3 min read

Claude’s AI lyrics cause market dilution, say music publishers calling for courts to reject fair use defence

Music publishers suing Anthropic for copyright infringement want a summary judgement in their favour, urging the judge to reject the AI company’s ‘fair use’ defence. They argue Anthropic’s Claude AI spitting out new lyrics is causing market dilution, which is grounds for rejecting a fair use claim…

Chris Cooke • 25 Mar 2026

Copyright Alliance welcomes separate AI documents published by White House and Congress, even though they differ on copyright matters

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

Copyright Alliance welcomes separate AI documents published by White House and Congress, even though they differ on copyright matters

Two documents on regulating AI were published in Washington last week, one by President Donald Trump and one by Senator Marsha Blackburn. They say opposing things when it comes to copyright matters. But the Copyright Alliance was still able to find positives in both of the documents…

Chris Cooke • 24 Mar 2026

Declare trademark claims bogus says FKA in Twigs vs Twigs

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FKA Twigs • 3 min read

Declare trademark claims bogus says FKA in Twigs vs Twigs

FKA Twigs is trying to trademark her name in the US, but an indie pop duo called The Twigs are trying to block her registration. They complained about FKA Twigs using that name back in 2014, but then went silent for ten years. FKA Twigs now wants a court to rule that they should shut up again…

Chris Cooke • 24 Mar 2026

Chance The Rapper wins sunset clause dispute with former manager

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Chance The Rapper • 4 min read

Chance The Rapper wins sunset clause dispute with former manager

Chance The Rapper has won his sunset clause dispute with ex-manager Patrick Corcoran. There was no written agreement between rapper and manager, so Corcoran was relying on a 2013 conversation. The rapper also countersued over allegations of misconduct by his manager, for which he won $35 in damages…

Chris Cooke • 23 Mar 2026

Entrapment, disgusting employees and saying no to Adele: Rapino testifies in Live Nation lawsuit

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Live Nation • 5 min read

Entrapment, disgusting employees and saying no to Adele: Rapino testifies in Live Nation lawsuit

The Live Nation antitrust trial continues in New York, and yesterday boss man Michael Rapino took to the witness stand. He insisted that his company does not operate an unlawful monopoly, but admitted that a staff member’s Slack post calling ticket buyers “stupid” was “disgusting”…

Chris Cooke • 20 Mar 2026

“We’re robbing them blind, baby!” ticketing exec takes to the witness stand in Live Nation antitrust trial

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Live Nation • 2 min read

“We’re robbing them blind, baby!” ticketing exec takes to the witness stand in Live Nation antitrust trial

The Live Nation antitrust trial continues in New York, where more than 30 US states accuse the live music company of anticompetitive conduct. On Tuesday lawyers questioned Benjamin Baker, the Live Nation ticketing exec who once said of ticket buyers in a Slack post, “we’re robbing them blind, baby!”…

Chris Cooke • 19 Mar 2026

Cautious welcome for UK government’s latest AI copyright stance, as BMG files latest Anthropic lawsuit

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

Cautious welcome for UK government’s latest AI copyright stance, as BMG files latest Anthropic lawsuit

The UK government yesterday abandoned plans for an AI copyright exception, although it doesn’t currently have a plan B. The music industry is glad the new exception is off the agenda, but concerns remain. Meanwhile, Sony has been discussing the deepfake problem, and BMG has sued Anthropic…

Chris Cooke • 19 Mar 2026

Apple wins legal battle with Musi after judge rules music app’s lawsuit was “not the paradigm of candor”

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Musi • 3 min read

Apple wins legal battle with Musi after judge rules music app’s lawsuit was “not the paradigm of candor”

Apple has won its legal battle with music app Musi, which sources its music from YouTube rather than having deals with record labels. A judge ruled that Apple was within its rights to axe Musi from its App Store, and also sanctioned Musi’s lawyers for making false claims in their amended lawsuit…

Chris Cooke • 18 Mar 2026

SoundExchange boss says all EU countries must change copyright rules so European radio royalties flow to American performers

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SoundExchange • 3 min read

SoundExchange boss says all EU countries must change copyright rules so European radio royalties flow to American performers

Ireland last week changed its copyright laws so that radio royalties can now flow to American performers when their music is played on Irish radio. SoundExchange has celebrated the change, caused by an EU court ruling, but some European industry groups say the European Commission should intervene…

Chris Cooke • 18 Mar 2026

DoJ’s Live Nation settlement “proof Trump Administration cannot be trusted to protect American consumers”, says new Senate report on Ticketmaster

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Live Nation • 3 min read

DoJ’s Live Nation settlement “proof Trump Administration cannot be trusted to protect American consumers”, says new Senate report on Ticketmaster

US senator Richard Blumenthal has slammed the settlement reached between Live Nation and the US DoJ, insisting that it won’t address any of the competition issues raised. In a new report, he urges the US states still pursuing an antitrust case to push for a break-up of Live Nation and Ticketmaster…

Chris Cooke • 17 Mar 2026

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