Associated Production Music Reaches Settlement With Multiple AHL Teams in Copyright Infringement Case
Associated Production Music (APM) has reached confidential settlement agreements with multiple American Hockey League (AHL) teams in an ongoing copyright infringement dispute. These settlements specifically involve Capital Sports & Entertainment (Belleville Senators) and Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (Hershey Bears).
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The lawsuit, filed in September, alleges unauthorized use of APM recordings in social media promotional videos by various AHL teams, including the Ontario Reign and Tucson Roadrunners. Despite repeated communications with the AHL, the parties failed to reach an initial resolution.
Key Points:
- Settlement notices were filed on December 6th (Capital) and December 11th (Hershey)
- Terms of both agreements remain confidential
- The court rejected a request to pause Capital's pending dismissal deadlines
- The AHL maintains it wasn't required to obtain licenses for the disputed usage
The AHL's December response strongly denied any wrongdoing, stating they weren't required to obtain licenses from APM for the works in question. This suggests that a broader settlement between APM and the AHL is not imminent.
Similar copyright infringement cases are emerging across sports and entertainment, with Universal Music, Sony Music, and Kobalt pursuing litigation against NBA teams, Marriott, and Chili's parent company. These cases highlight the growing importance of proper music licensing for commercial social media content.
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Important Note: Social platform song libraries typically only cover personal use, not commercial applications. Businesses and their representatives must secure proper licenses for both musical compositions and recordings.