X Sues Music Publishers, Alleging ‘Collusion’ Over Licensing Deals

X, a social media platform, has filed a lawsuit against music publishers, alleging that they colluded to charge inflated rates for licensing agreements. According to the lawsuit, X was pressured into signing licensing agreements with publishers at rates that were higher than market value.

The lawsuit claims that the publishers engaged in anti-competitive behavior, restricting X's ability to negotiate fair prices for licensing agreements. This, in turn, led to X paying more for licensing agreements than it would have if the market were competitive.

The lawsuit was filed in a New York court and seeks damages and injunctive relief. X has been a major player in the music industry, with millions of users and a vast library of music content.

The lawsuit is the latest development in a long-standing dispute between X and music publishers. In 2023, publishers sued X for copyright violations, alleging that the platform had failed to obtain proper licenses for certain songs.

The lawsuit has significant implications for the music industry, as it could set a precedent for how music licensing agreements are negotiated in the future. It also raises questions about the role of social media platforms in the music industry and their relationships with music publishers.

Sources

[1] X Sues Music Publishers, Alleging ‘Collusion’ Over Licensing Deals