APM Music Files Copyright Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson Over Unauthorized Music Usage

APM Music Files Copyright Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson Over Unauthorized Music Usage

By Marcus Hartley

December 2, 2024 at 06:10 AM

APM, a major production music company owned by Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing Group, has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson for alleged copyright infringement in the Central District of California, Western Division.

Sign reading "defendant" on desk

Sign reading "defendant" on desk

Photo Credit: Wesley Tingey

The lawsuit claims Johnson & Johnson used copyrighted sound recordings without permission in promotional videos across social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (now X), and YouTube. APM discovered the alleged infringement earlier this year and reports that Johnson & Johnson refused to obtain licenses or acknowledge any wrongdoing.

APM is seeking:

  • Unspecified damages
  • An injunction to stop further infringement
  • Attorney's fees
  • Up to $150,000 in statutory damages per infringed work

APM's catalog includes over 1 million tracks from production libraries such as Bruton, Cezame, KPM Music, Kosinus, and Sonoton. Their music has been featured in major productions like Westworld, Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

This case follows similar recent lawsuits, including those filed against NBA teams by Kobalt Music Publishing and other publishers for unauthorized music use in promotional content.

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Book cover

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Book cover

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Spotify Developer API interface screenshot

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