A three-year legal battle between X, Elon Musk"s social media platform, and major music publishers has quietly ended. Court documents filed by both X and a group of music publishers show that both sides have dismissed their opposing lawsuits with prejudice, meaning the cases are permanently closed and cannot be refiled. The terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, as reported by Reuters. The dispute began in 2023 when the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) sued the platform, then known as Twitter, accusing it of widespread copyright infringement.
The original lawsuit claimed Twitter hosted thousands of infringements
The initial lawsuit sought $250 million in damages, alleging that Twitter allowed users to upload and share copyrighted music without authorization or licensing agreements. At the time, Twitter was one of the few major social platforms without a music licensing deal, unlike YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. The NMPA argued that Twitter profited from this unlicensed activity, harming songwriters and record labels.
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X countersued alleging anticompetitive practices
Nearly three years later, X fired back with its own lawsuit, claiming that the music publishers had engaged in anticompetitive practices to force the platform into paying higher licensing fees. X argued it should not be held liable for user piracy and had requested the court dismiss the case as recently as last month. Now, with the mutual dismissal, both sides avoid a lengthy trial and potential damages.
A quiet settlement raises questions about future licensing deals
Neither X nor the NMPA has provided an explanation for the dismissals. The silence suggests a confidential financial settlement or possibly an agreement to finally negotiate a licensing contract. This case highlights the ongoing tension between social media platforms and the music industry, a topic that also affects Italian SMEs navigating digital copyright. For more on how big tech decisions impact small businesses, read China"s AI moonshot leaves Europe behind. Additionally, the recent Apple Music price increase illustrates how licensing costs affect consumers. For broader context, see Wikipedia"s entry on copyright infringement.
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Source: https://www.engadget.com/2218101/x-music-publishers-quietly-settle-opposing-lawsuits
