Music Industry Bodies Pursue $250 Million Lawsuit Against Twitter for Copyright Infringement

Twitter, the widely used social media platform, is currently entangled in a legal battle as a coalition of 17 music industry bodies seeks $250 million in damages over alleged copyright infringement. The lawsuit, filed in Tennessee, USA, involves prominent publishers like Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Group, Warner Chappell, and BMG. It stems from Twitter’s failure to negotiate music licensing agreements with copyright holders, setting it apart from other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

According to court documents obtained by Music Business Worldwide, the lawsuit portrays Twitter as a hub for rampant copyright infringement. It accuses the platform of knowingly hosting and streaming unauthorized copies of musical compositions without proper licensing. The legal action claims that Twitter has allowed widespread use of music without obtaining the necessary permissions and has even granted repeat infringers continued access to its platform, perpetuating further copyright violations.

In June, David Israelite, CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), commented on the lawsuit, emphasizing that Twitter is the largest social media platform outrightly refusing to license the millions of songs available on its service. Israelite highlighted Twitter’s awareness of the extensive music leaking, launching, and streaming by billions of users daily. He stated that Twitter can no longer hide behind the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and evade its responsibility to compensate songwriters and music publishers.

Despite Twitter’s ownership by Elon Musk, who acquired the platform for $44 billion last year, there has been no apparent improvement in the copyright infringement situation. The $250 million lawsuit filed by music industry bodies aims to hold Twitter accountable for its alleged failure to secure music licensing agreements and its continued hosting and streaming of infringing musical compositions. As the largest social media platform refusing to license songs, Twitter must face the consequences of its actions and support the rights of artists and copyright holders. The outcome of this lawsuit carries significant implications for the future of music on social media platforms and the enforcement of copyright protection in the digital age.