UMG's $500M Copyright Lawsuit Against Believe Advances to January Pretrial Conference
Universal Music Group's $500 million copyright infringement lawsuit against Believe and TuneCore is advancing, with a pretrial conference scheduled for January 8 in New York. The parties must submit a joint letter and proposed Civil Case Management Plan by January 2.
UMG white logo against black background
The lawsuit centers on allegations that Believe and TuneCore distributed infringing content to digital platforms like YouTube without proper vetting. UMG claims the defendants wrongfully collected royalties from unauthorized versions of songs by major artists including Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, and Lady Gaga.
Key allegations include:
- Distribution of unauthorized "sped up" and "remixed" versions of popular songs
- Exploitation of YouTube's content management system to claim ownership of recordings
- Diversion of royalty payments from rightful owners
- Failure to implement proper copyright verification processes
UMG seeks $500 million in damages and a permanent injunction to prevent further infringement. Believe has stated they "strongly refute these claims" and will contest them in court, while maintaining they "take the respect of copyright very seriously."
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for digital music distribution and copyright enforcement in the streaming era.
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