Music Publishers File $250 Million Lawsuit Against Twitter Over Alleged Copyright Infringement

 

"Music Publishers Sue Twitter for $250 Million Alleging Copyright Infringement" A consortium of 17 prominent music publishers in the United States has filed a lawsuit against Twitter, accusing the platform of facilitating copyright violations involving approximately 1,700 songs. The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) is seeking damages exceeding $250 million in a legal action initiated at the Federal District Court in Nashville.

According to the NMPA, Twitter not only permits but also encourages copyright infringement for its own profit. The association asserts that the situation has not improved since Elon Musk's acquisition of the company. Representing renowned firms such as Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, and Universal Music Publishing Group, the NMPA claims that Twitter continues to generate substantial profits from unlicensed music without remunerating the necessary licensing fees.

Moreover, the NMPA contends that Twitter's infringements have bestowed an unfair advantage upon the platform, in contrast to its competitors like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, which diligently pay for music licenses. NMPA President David Israelite stated that Twitter "stands alone as the largest social media platform that has completely refused to license the millions of songs on its service."

Twitter has not provided a direct response to inquiries made by BBC for comment on the matter. Elon Musk, recently reclaimed the title of the world's wealthiest individual, acquired Twitter for $44 billion last year. The NMPA highlights that the change in ownership has not brought about any improvements in Twitter's copyright-related practices. In fact, the association asserts that Twitter's internal affairs concerning this case are in disarray, citing downsizing of crucial departments responsible for content review and enforcement of terms of service, as well as the resignations of key personnel in trust and safety roles.

Additionally, the NMPA accuses Twitter of regularly disregarding known repeat infringers and instances of infringement. Linda Yaccarino, former head of advertising at media giant NBCUniversal, recently assumed the position of CEO at Twitter. She now oversees the platform's business operations in its ongoing struggle to achieve profitability. Since Musk's acquisition, Twitter has implemented a 75% reduction in its workforce, including teams dedicated to monitoring and addressing abusive behavior, and has made changes to its account verification process.