Music industry legal news

Believe x WMG takeover dance warms up as financial regulator is called in

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Believe • 10 min read

Believe x WMG takeover dance warms up as financial regulator is called in

We’re not calling it a takeover battle - yet. After Warner quietly threatened to get the French financial markets authority to step into its maybe/maybe-not bid for Believe the independent committee at the French indie giant has gone straight for the throat and called them in itself…

Sam Taylor • 12 Mar 2024

TikTok insists it isn't forcing Americans to phone politicians as ban proposal gets fast-tracked in Congress

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TikTok • 3 min read

TikTok insists it isn't forcing Americans to phone politicians as ban proposal gets fast-tracked in Congress

Last week’s proposals in US Congress that could result in TikTok being banned are being fast-tracked through the House Of Representatives. Attempts by TikTok to rally its users to campaign against the proposals don’t seem to be working…

Chris Cooke • 11 Mar 2024

US appeals court lets Lizzo keep $5 million from festival that never happened

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Lizzo • 2 min read

US appeals court lets Lizzo keep $5 million from festival that never happened

Lizzo was paid $5 million after committing to play the LA Virgin Fest in 2020. COVID then caused the festival to be cancelled, but Lizzo’s agent said that amendments made to her contract meant she didn’t have to return the fee. A US appeals court has concluded that the agents are right…

Chris Cooke • 11 Mar 2024

Epic declares DMA victory after EU intervention forces speedy change in Apple policy position

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Epic Games • 2 min read

Epic declares DMA victory after EU intervention forces speedy change in Apple policy position

The EU Digital Markets Act went properly into effect last week impacting Apple’s App Store rules. App developers have criticised how Apple plans to comply with the act, although Epic Games says that it has already seen the benefit thanks to an intervention by the European Commission…

Chris Cooke • 11 Mar 2024

Cox again challenges the copyright claims of the major record companies, which in turn try to retain their billion dollar pay day

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Cox Communications • 3 min read

Cox again challenges the copyright claims of the major record companies, which in turn try to retain their billion dollar pay day

Both Cox Communications and the major record companies have made filings with the Fourth Circuit Appeals Court in their ongoing copyright legal battle. The ISP again argues it isn’t liable for copyright infringement. The majors are trying to retain their billion dollars in damages.…

Chris Cooke • 08 Mar 2024

US Congress members propose new performer remuneration system funded by a streaming levy

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Digital services and platforms news • 3 min read

US Congress members propose new performer remuneration system funded by a streaming levy

New proposals in US Congress would introduce a performer equitable remuneration system on streaming paid for by a new levy applied to subscription fees. Monies generated by the levy would flow directly to performers via a new fund…

Chris Cooke • 07 Mar 2024

New US-wide TikTok ban proposed in Congress

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TikTok • 3 min read

New US-wide TikTok ban proposed in Congress

More US politicians are trying to get TikTok banned in the country over data security concerns caused by the app being owned by China-based Bytedance. A new bill proposed in Congress orders ByteDance to sell the app or face a US-wide ban…

Chris Cooke • 06 Mar 2024

Music publishers lawsuit against X cut back but allowed to proceed

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X • 2 min read

Music publishers lawsuit against X cut back but allowed to proceed

A lawsuit filed by a group of music publishers against X will proceed, although with some claims removed. The social media firm wanted the case dismissed outright, but a judge says that allegations of contributory infringement stemming from the unlicensed music on its platform should go to trial…

Chris Cooke • 06 Mar 2024

Manchester City Council has spent nearly £90,000 fighting Night & Day legal battle

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Night & Day • 3 min read

Manchester City Council has spent nearly £90,000 fighting Night & Day legal battle

A freedom of information request has revealed that Manchester City Council has now spent nearly £90,000 on its legal battle with the Night & Day venue over a noise abatement order. It blames the venue for taking the matter to court, a claim the Music Venue Trust rejects…

Chris Cooke • 05 Mar 2024

Apple hits out at EU competition ruling that “ignores the realities of a market”

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Apple • 4 min read

Apple hits out at EU competition ruling that “ignores the realities of a market”

Apple has responded to the European Union’s ruling that its App Store rules breach competition law, hitting out at both Spotify and the European Commission, and all the meetings that Spotify has had with EC officials since first complaining about its rules around in-app payments…

Chris Cooke • 05 Mar 2024

EU fines €1.8 billion at end of Spotify initiated competition law investigation

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Apple • 4 min read

EU fines €1.8 billion at end of Spotify initiated competition law investigation

Apple has been fined €1.8 billion by the European Union, following an investigation into its App Store rules. The massive fine is almost four times larger than the €500 million that had been expected and is the result of a complaint filed by Spotify in 2019…

Chris Cooke • 04 Mar 2024

YouTube Music staff laid off in middle of meeting about employment rights with Austin City Council

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YouTube • 2 min read

YouTube Music staff laid off in middle of meeting about employment rights with Austin City Council

A group of YouTube Music staff found out that they had been made redundant while speaking at a council meeting in Texas, urging councillors to support them in their efforts to get the Google-owned company to negotiate with their union. Google says they were contractors whose agreements have expired…

Chris Cooke • 04 Mar 2024

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