Limp Bizkit has filed a massive lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), seeking over $200 million in damages for alleged unpaid royalties, copyright infringement, and breach of contract.

Key Details of the Lawsuit:

• The dispute stems from a 1996 agreement between Limp Bizkit and Flip Records, which had a joint venture with Interscope
• The band claims they never received any royalty payments from UMG until 2024
• UMG allegedly misrepresented accounts as unrecouped and engaged in fraudulent accounting practices
• The lawsuit covers the band's first three albums and subsequent agreements

Recent Developments:

• In April 2024, new representatives discovered nearly $1.04 million in unpaid royalties through UMG's portal
• The band claims accounts that were recouped since 2019 were falsely classified as "unrecouped"
• UMG eventually paid $1.04 million to Limp Bizkit and $2.35 million to Flawless Records in August 2024

Key Claims:

• Missing royalty statements dating back to 1997
• Alleged overdrafting of accounts with "unsubstantiated costs"
• Disputed advance payments ($43 million claimed by UMG vs. $13 million identified by plaintiffs)
• Commercial success (including 793 million expected streams by 2024's end) should have led to earlier recoupment

The plaintiffs are seeking contract termination and damages exceeding $200 million. UMG attributes the issues to a software problem, but the band maintains systematic underpayment occurred over decades.

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