Music industry legal news

1000+ music creators back statement calling unlicensed AI training “major, unjust threat to livelihood”

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

1000+ music creators back statement calling unlicensed AI training “major, unjust threat to livelihood”

Thousands of creators from across the creative industries have endorsed a statement saying that AI companies which train their models with existing content without getting permission first are posing an “unjust threat” to the livelihoods of people working in those sectors…

Chris Cooke • 23 Oct 2024

£5 million still locked in Festicket’s Stripe account after promoters raise trust claims

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Festicket • 4 min read

£5 million still locked in Festicket’s Stripe account after promoters raise trust claims

Ticketing company Festicket collapsed in 2022. Many promoters said money from their ticket sales should have been held in trust, but a judge ruled their contracts with Festicket didn’t establish a trust. Some now claim to have an implied trust arrangement with Festicket’s payment processor Stripe…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 18 Oct 2024

Lil Rod’s lawyer says sources “reliable” and UMG “shouldn’t think they’re in the clear” on Diddy allegations - whilst major says “no evidence” it was involved in “freak-offs”

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Diddy • 3 min read

Lil Rod’s lawyer says sources “reliable” and UMG “shouldn’t think they’re in the clear” on Diddy allegations - whilst major says “no evidence” it was involved in “freak-offs”

Universal Music is still angry at being named as a defendant in an explosive lawsuit that was filed against Diddy earlier this year. It wants the lawyer that prepared that lawsuit to be sanctioned by the court. In a hearing this week, that lawyer insisted his sources were reliable…

Chris Cooke • 17 Oct 2024

2 Live Crew win back control of early albums as court rejects label’s ‘work for hire’ claim

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2 Live Crew • 3 min read

2 Live Crew win back control of early albums as court rejects label’s ‘work for hire’ claim

A jury has sided with 2 Live Crew in a termination rights dispute with the label that owns their early recordings. The group is trying to reclaim those rights, but the label said they couldn’t because their albums were made on a ‘work for hire’ basis. The jury rejected that argument…

Chris Cooke • 17 Oct 2024

“Bulletproof” ISPs in the spotlight as RIAA submits annual piracy gripes to US government’s ‘notorious markets’ report

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Piracy • 2 min read

“Bulletproof” ISPs in the spotlight as RIAA submits annual piracy gripes to US government’s ‘notorious markets’ report

The US government is putting together its annual notorious markets report, which lists piracy sites of concern. The record industry has made its submission. Whereas last year concerns about AI vocal clones were included, this year’s contribution focuses on more conventional types of music piracy…

Chris Cooke • 14 Oct 2024

Appeals court cuts major label payouts in Grande ISP copyright infringement case

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Grande Communications • 3 min read

Appeals court cuts major label payouts in Grande ISP copyright infringement case

There’s been an important ruling in the major labels’ music piracy case against Grande Communications. A US appeals court has confirmed the ISP is liable for copyright infringement, rejecting a new argument based on a 2023 Supreme Court ruling. However, the damages bill will be cut back…

Chris Cooke • 11 Oct 2024

Diddy trial date set for May 2025, investigation “very much ongoing”, could see further charges

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Diddy • 2 min read

Diddy trial date set for May 2025, investigation “very much ongoing”, could see further charges

There have been more developments in the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs criminal case this week following last month’s sex trafficking charges. He has accused law enforcement of illegally leaking evidence, the prosecution have revealed there may yet be more charges, and a trial date has been set for next May…

Chris Cooke • 11 Oct 2024

Universal Music sues Chili’s over music in social media posts

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Universal Music • 2 min read

Universal Music sues Chili’s over music in social media posts

Another lawsuit has been filed in the US against a brand which used music in its social media posts with getting the right sync licences. Universal Music has sued the Chili's restaurant chain, which is already fighting a similar lawsuit filed by the Beastie Boys…

Chris Cooke • 10 Oct 2024

Judge rejects appeal against The Leadmill’s landlord getting a premises licence

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The Leadmill • 2 min read

Judge rejects appeal against The Leadmill’s landlord getting a premises licence

The legal battle between Phil Mills, operator of Sheffield venue The Leadmill, and his landlord The Electric Group continues. Sheffield council granted The Electric Group its own licence for the venue for if and when it evicts Mills. He appealed that decision, but his appeal has now been rejected…

Chris Cooke • 10 Oct 2024

TikTok sued by multiple US states over design features that damage the health of young users

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TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok sued by multiple US states over design features that damage the health of young users

Multiple US states have been investigating the impact of TikTok on its users and, based on that investigation, more than a dozen states have now filed lawsuits claiming that addictive-by-design features manipulate young users in a way that damages their mental health…

Chris Cooke • 09 Oct 2024

Fred Durst sues Universal over systems that are “deliberately designed to conceal artists’ royalties and keep those profits for itself”

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Limp Bizkit • 4 min read

Fred Durst sues Universal over systems that are “deliberately designed to conceal artists’ royalties and keep those profits for itself”

Fred Durst has sued Universal Music over its alleged failure to report and pay royalties he was due from Limp Bizkit’s records and a former label joint venture. He claims the major’s systems are deliberately set up in a way that means artists don’t necessarily know they are owed money…

Chris Cooke • 09 Oct 2024

Naxos sues Chinese classical music platform Kuke

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Naxos • 2 min read

Naxos sues Chinese classical music platform Kuke

Chinese classical platform Kuke Music entered into an eight year deal with Naxos in 2018, giving it access to a large catalogue of classical recordings. However, Naxos says Kuke stopped making payments under that deal at the end of 2021 and, with nearly $2 million owing, it has now filed a lawsuit…

Chris Cooke • 08 Oct 2024

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