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$43M Settlement Reached in Spotify Copyright Infringement Class Action

This is a settlement for the Spotify Faces $150M Intellectual Property Infringement Class Action Lawsuit lawsuit.

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Santa Clara, CA: A $43 million settlement has been agreed in two consolidated copyright infringement class actions pending against the internet music content streaming service Spotify.

According to the suit, instead of following legally established procedures for paying the mechanical royalties, Spotify engaged in "systemic and willful copyright infringement".

The settlement, which requires court approval, will end a year of litigation for the two suits, filed in January 2016 by Camper Van Beethoven lead singer David Lowery and singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick. They alleged Spotify had chosen to "infringe now, apologize later" rather than go through the effort of fully licensing its music.

"While Spotify has profited handsomely from the music that its sells to its subscribers, the owners of that music (in particular, songwriters and their music publishers) have not been able to share in that success because Spotify is using their music for free," Ferrick’s complaint stated. "Spotify's failure to properly obtain licenses is much more than what it euphemistically describes as an 'administration system' problem," Ferrick's alleged. "It is systemic and willful copyright infringement for which actual and statutory damages are the remedy."

Under the terms of the settlement, thousands of songwriters will share in the $43.5 million settlement fund as payment for Spotify’s past use of their material. Additionally, the fund will go towards establishing procedures to pay for mechanical royalties, which go to songwriters and publishers when compositions are recorded or reproduced.

The case is Melissa Ferrick et al v. Spotify USA Inc. et al., case number 1:16-cv-08412, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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Reader Comments

Posted by

on
I would like to know why the judge didn't put a time limit on the one who appealed the June deadline for the final decision? Also I would like to know what is taking so long for them to bring in their objection/ objections. they should have some consideration for others included in the settlement.

Posted by

on
I am Kerry Young Producer see the Young Brothers Reparation on You Tube and also on google.com here is my email ntvtunes@gmail,com contact me I want to hear from you guys.

Posted by

on
It is hard to tell what is going on with this 43.45 mil. dollars law suite with Melissa Ferrick, and David Lowery/ vs Spotify. one minute it seems to be saying it's been settled and then it seems to be saying the Judge haven't made a decision yet. Because if indeed someone infringe on my music, I want to be paid.

Posted by

on
I would like to know the final decision on Dec. 1st of the Ferrick spoty litigation.

Posted by

on
I had spotify for a while and had to get rid of it due to having nothing but problems with spotify and it made my devices crash constantly along with the music quality being terrible.

Posted by

on
Disappointed

Posted by

on
SO UPSET

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