1,700 Songs: US Music Publishers Sue Twitter, Claiming It Enabled Copyright Violations

Thu Jun 15 2023
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CALIFORNIA: A group of 17 music publishers in the United States has sued Twitter, claiming the platform enabled copyright violations involving nearly 1,700 songs.

According to the BBC, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is seeking more than $250m in damages. In a lawsuit filed at the Federal District Court in Nashville, the NMPA claimed Twitter “permits and encouraged infringement” for profit.

It said the situation hasn’t improved since Elon Musk bought the company.

The NMPA, representing the industry – including Sony Music Publishing, BUniversal Music Publishing Group, and MG Rights Management alleged that Twitter continues to reap vast profits from the availability of unlicensed music without paying the necessary licensing fees for it.

It added that the infringements had given Twitter an “unfair advantage” over competitors – including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat – which pay for music licenses.

NMPA President David Israelite said that Twitter is a huge social media platform that has refused to license millions of songs on its service.

Twitter didn’t directly respond to a BBC request for comment.

Musk recently reclaimed the global richest person title and bought Twitter for $44bn last year.

The NMPA said: “Twitter’s change in ownership in October 2022 has not led to improvements in how it acts concerning copyright.”

It added that, on the contrary, Twitter’s internal affairs regarding matters about this case are in disarray.

NMPA cited Twitter’s downsizing of critical departments, participation in content review and policing terms of service violations, and the resignations of trust and safety chiefs Yoel Roth and Ella Irwin.

The NMPA alleged that Twitter “routinely ignores known repeat infringers and known infringements.”

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