Music industry legal news

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Nirvana • 2 min read

Nirvana baby lawsuit dismissed

The Nirvana baby lawsuit has been dismissed. Spencer Elden, who as a baby appeared on the cover of ‘Nevermind’, sued the band in 2021 claiming that the artwork constituted illegal sexual imagery. But the judge says he “has a difficult time understanding” that interpretation of the image…

Chris Cooke • 02 Oct 2025

Aussie festival strip search lawsuit could cost NSW government $150 million

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Splendour In The Grass • 2 min read

Aussie festival strip search lawsuit could cost NSW government $150 million

An Australian court yesterday awarded a woman $93,000 in damages after she was illegally strip searched by police at a music festival in 2018. 3000 people are involved in a class action over allegedly unlawful strip searches, which could result in liabilities of $150 million for the NSW government…

Chris Cooke • 01 Oct 2025

No one seems to know if Kneecap are still banned from Canada - or whether they were ever actually banned at all

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Kneecap • 4 min read

No one seems to know if Kneecap are still banned from Canada - or whether they were ever actually banned at all

When Canadian MP Vince Gasparro announced Kneecap were banned from Canada last month he noted the criminal case against Mo Chara. With that case dismissed, it remains unclear if the ban is still in force, not least because it’s not clear in what capacity Gasparro announced the ban in the first place…

Chris Cooke • 01 Oct 2025

The MLC can submit amended lawsuit in battle over Spotify’s bundling tricks

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Spotify • 4 min read

The MLC can submit amended lawsuit in battle over Spotify’s bundling tricks

Earlier this year a judge dismissed with prejudice The MLC’s lawsuit over Spotify’s sneaky bundling tricks. However, the collecting society has other issues with how Spotify is using those tricks to reduce what it pays songwriters, and as a result the judge has said it can file an amended lawsuit…

Chris Cooke • 29 Sep 2025

‘Something Inside’ songwriter goes legal over Tommy Robinson’s use of his anti-apartheid anthem

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Labi Siffre • 3 min read

‘Something Inside’ songwriter goes legal over Tommy Robinson’s use of his anti-apartheid anthem

Right wing activist Tommy Robinson has been using the famous anti-apartheid anthem ‘(Something Inside) So Strong’ on his social media and at the recent ‘Unite The Kingdom’ political rally, which is ironic, but also copyright infringement, according to the writer of that song, Labi Siffre…

Chris Cooke • 29 Sep 2025

Kneecap terror charge thrown out as judge says prosecutors “defied logic”

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Kneecap • 3 min read

Kneecap terror charge thrown out as judge says prosecutors “defied logic”

Kneecap’s Mo Chara was back in court earlier today over the terror charge prompted by allegations he displayed a Hezbollah flag at a London gig last year. The judge ruled prosecutors made errors when charging the rapper and on that basis the case against him was “unlawful and null”…

Chris Cooke • 26 Sep 2025

Donald Trump signs executive order “saving TikTok”

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TikTok • 3 min read

Donald Trump signs executive order “saving TikTok”

Donald Trump has formally endorsed the plan to sell TikTok’s US operations to a new business majority owned by American investors. The President signed an executive order yesterday which says that plan complies with the sell-or-be-banned law passed by Congress last year over data security concerns…

Chris Cooke • 26 Sep 2025

US government set to side with Cox in court to overturn billion dollar damages judgement

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Cox Communications • 2 min read

US government set to side with Cox in court to overturn billion dollar damages judgement

Not only is the US government backing Cox Communications as it tries to overturn the billion dollar ruling in its long-running copyright battle with the major labels, but US Solicitor General D John Sauer now wants ten minutes to tell Supreme Court judges directly why they should side with the ISP…

Chris Cooke • 25 Sep 2025

Indie artist suing Suno amends lawsuit with new arguments against AI company’s fair use defence

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Suno • 3 min read

Indie artist suing Suno amends lawsuit with new arguments against AI company’s fair use defence

After the major labels updated their lawsuit against Suno, adding allegations of stream-ripping, the indie musician who also sued the music AI company has done the same. Anthony Justice hopes that recent judgements in cases involving Anthropic and Meta can help him defeat Suno’s fair use defence…

Chris Cooke • 24 Sep 2025

Major labels add piracy claims to Suno lawsuit after $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement

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Suno • 3 min read

Major labels add piracy claims to Suno lawsuit after $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement

The majors have amended their Suno lawsuit, alleging that the AI company sourced music by illegally ripping files from YouTube. It follows the ruling in the authors v Anthropic case, where Anthropic’s illegal sourcing of content created big copyright liabilities, prompting a $1.5 billion settlement…

Chris Cooke • 22 Sep 2025

Meta seeks dismissal of Eminem copyright lawsuit

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Eminem • 2 min read

Meta seeks dismissal of Eminem copyright lawsuit

Earlier this year Eminem publisher Eight Mile Style filed a lawsuit against Meta, claiming that the rapper’s music appeared in videos on Facebook and Instagram without the necessary licences. Meta wants the lawsuit dismissed, arguing it lacks substance, and that it did - in fact - have a licence…

Chris Cooke • 22 Sep 2025

After Kneecap banned from Canada, rap trio say they will take legal action

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Kneecap • 3 min read

After Kneecap banned from Canada, rap trio say they will take legal action

Kneecap have been banned from performing in Canada, where they were due to play four gigs next month. The Canadian government says the rap trio have “displayed support for terrorist organisations”, something Kneecap’s members strongly deny. They have vowed legal action against the ban…

Chris Cooke • 22 Sep 2025

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