In June 2023, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group and Warner Chappell Music were joined by Downtown Music, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Kobalt, peermusic, Reservoir Media and others in a lawsuit against X Corp, alleging “rampant infringement of copyrighted music” on X.
They sought more than $250 million in damages for “hundreds of thousands” of alleged infringements of approximately 1700 works.
In March 2024, X Corp’s motion to dismiss the case was partially granted by Judge Aleta Trauger of the US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
As per Music Business Worldwide (MBW), the case was allowed to proceed on three other allegations: That X provided “more lenient copyright enforcement to ‘verified users;’ that it failed to take down infringing materials ‘in a timely manner;’ and that it ‘failed to take reasonable steps in response to severe serial infringers.’”
As per MBW, on June 6 the publishers and X Corp filed a petition in a Tennessee federal court jointly requesting a pause to legal proceedings to settle the dispute outside of court.
They have been granted a 90-day stay in proceedings to negotiate a settlement. If successful, the parties will file an appropriate dismissal with the Court.
The 90-day freeze may be extended if both parties request it.
A spokesman from the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) told MBW: “The intent of the stay is to discuss with X the resolution of the suit and proper compensation to songwriters and publishers for past unlicensed uses, while providing an opportunity for go forward licensing.”
