Warner Music sues over TikTok ads

[Teletubby 117,480]

Energy drink maker Bang Energy is facing a third lawsuit from a major music label over their social-media ads, after several Warner Music Group affiliates accused them of setting TikTok and Instagram videos to music with songs by artists including Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Jack Harlow, Lizzo without a license.

Bang's TikTok account has over 1.5 million followers, and TikTok videos with the #bangenergy hashtag have over 18 billion views. Its Instagram account has 2.3 million followers.

The label accused Bang of violating its copyrights in 187 songs. WMG requested either actual money damages or statutory damages of up to $150,000 per song, as well as a court order to permanently block Bang from using its music.

The new case came on the heels of similar lawsuits filed by both Sony and UMG. In July, UMG won a ruling that Bang Energy had infringed its copyright; last week, Sony won the same kind of ruling. Taken together, the two decisions potentially put the drink company on the hook for many millions of dollars in damages.

Bang Energy argued it did not know it wasn’t allowed to use copyrighted music in its videos. Its lawyers cited the fact that TikTok and Instagram make it easy for users to pull any song into a video, and even claimed in Sony’s case that a TikTok rep told them they could do it. But Judge William P. Dimitrouleas has rejected that argument in both of the earlier cases.

The sweeping music licenses signed by platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which allow users to feature snippets of copyrighted music in their posts, do not apply to commercial content posted by brands. Companies must negotiate separate deals, or instead use generic royalty-free tracks.

Warner Music said it sent Bang Energy a cease-and-desist letter following Universal Music's lawsuit last year. The lawsuit said that some of the infringing videos remained up over a year later, and that Bang posted new infringing videos after receiving the letter.

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[RAMROD 96,359]

Surprised Bang didn't even bother reaching out to the labels, instead of the social media executive, like what are they  doing? smh

 

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Slay