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TikTok rapper must pay Sony $800k over unlicensed sample


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A rapper popular on TikTok must pay Sony Music more than $800,000 in damages for using a copyrighted sample without permission, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, saying that the big fine would teach him a six-figure “lesson” about “carefully selecting the materials included in his raps.”

Sony sued Trefuego (real name Dantreal Daevon Clark-Rainbolt) in 2021, accusing him of using a “blatant” sample from a 1986 Japanese instrumental song in his “90mh” — a track that Sony claimed had been featured in 155,000 TikTok videos and streamed 100 million times on Spotify.

After struggling to locate him, a federal judge ruled last year that the 20-year-old rapper had, in fact, infringed Sony’s copyrights. And in a follow-up ruling Wednesday, that same judge ordered him to hand over a whopping $802,997 — covering roughly $700,000 he earned in profits from Spotify and other platforms, and approximately $100,000 he would pay Sony in licensing fees.

The judge also ordered Trefuego to pay ongoing royalties, including a 50% cut of publishing revenue and a 20% cut of recording revenue, and to repay $2,230 in legal costs incurred by Sony.

https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/tiktok-rapper-pay-sony-800k-illegal-music-sample-judge-1235642526/

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bionic

Sounds like Sony were right to do this :vegas: 

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hELXIG
43 minutes ago, bionic said:

Sounds like Sony were right to do this :vegas: 

Yeah I don't think that THAT degree though. I wonder how much money he made off the song and if it will even cover that, or if he will be in debt the rest of his life and his career over. Not that I know anything about him or care about his career but I don't think it's fair to destroy someone's life

But if he did personally make $800,000 off the song then sure, take the money back

I'll be myself until they fūcking close the coffin.
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bionic
4 minutes ago, NATAH said:

damages? what was damaged? a CEO's wallet?

 

14 minutes ago, TheSine said:

In damages. :ladyhaha:

 

44 minutes ago, Helxig said:

Yeah I don't think that THAT degree though. I wonder how much money he made off the song and if it will even cover that, or if he will be in debt the rest of his life and his career over. Not that I know anything about him or care about his career but I don't think it's fair to destroy someone's life

But if he did personally make $800,000 off the song then sure, take the money back

$802,997 — covering roughly $700,000 he earned in profits from Spotify and other platforms, and approximately $100,000 he would pay Sony in licensing fees.

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TheSine
1 minute ago, bionic said:

$802,997 — covering roughly $700,000 he earned in profits from Spotify and other platforms, and approximately $100,000 he would pay Sony in licensing fees.

Well, then I believe in him to pay it all off. :shrug:

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nATAH
3 minutes ago, bionic said:

 

 

$802,997 — covering roughly $700,000 he earned in profits from Spotify and other platforms, and approximately $100,000 he would pay Sony in licensing fees.

but what was "damaged"?

mother, what must i do?
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bionic
4 minutes ago, TheSine said:

Well, then I believe in him to pay it all off. :shrug:

yuh its is a bit harsh to take 100% of his back pay as punishment (i guess thats what it means by the $700k profits) but thats how the cookie crumbles i guess. it looks like part of the motivation was that the guy hid from sony when first contacted lol

the full article highlights that the judge criticized sony for chasing a small fry but also noted that it is their right to protect their intellectual property

Edited by bionic
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FrederickSpears

Don't steal music. He apparently made a LOT off someone elses work without permission so he owes that.

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phantasmas

hmm... did the original composer complain tho? or was it just Sony that was mad they weren't cashing in? hopefully Sony pays the composer their fair share too :reductive:

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hELXIG
On 3/31/2024 at 1:23 PM, bionic said:

 

 

$802,997 — covering roughly $700,000 he earned in profits from Spotify and other platforms, and approximately $100,000 he would pay Sony in licensing fees.

Okay wow didn't expect he'd made that much! Yikes

I'll be myself until they fūcking close the coffin.
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