2023-06-14 17:40:22 ET
The National Music Publishers Association sued Twitter, claiming that the social media platform violates the copyright of songwriters by using their music without permission.
A group of 17 music publishers, including Warner Music Group ( NASDAQ: WMG ), Sony Music ( NYSE: SONY ), and Universal Music Group ( OTCPK:UMGNF ), alleged copyright infringement on more than 1,700 songs, and are asking for $150,000 for every music work infringed, or as much as $250 million in damages, according to the lawsuit. The publishers filed the lawsuit in Federal District Court in Nashville.
"The Twitter platform, which Elon Musk purchased in 2022 for $44 billion, is rife with copyright infringement," according to the lawsuit. "Both before and after the sale, Twitter has engaged in, knowingly facilitated, and profited from copyright infringement at the expense of music creators, to whom Twitter pays nothing."
The New York Times reported in March that Twitter was in discussions with three major music labels over licensing rights, though the discussions stalled under Musk's ownership.
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Music publishers sue Twitter over alleged copyright infringement