Music Publishers, X Corp Settle Copyright Lawsuits

A significant legal dispute between major music publishers and Elon Musk's X Corp has concluded, with both parties agreeing to dismiss their lawsuits. Federal court filings revealed that leading music labels, such as Universal Music Group and Sony Music, have settled their legal battle with the social media platform over the use of copyrighted music.

The publishers had initially sued X in a Tennessee federal court in 2023, seeking over $250 million in damages. Their lawsuit alleged that X systematically infringed nearly 1,700 copyrights by permitting users to upload and share songs without obtaining the necessary licenses. The publishers argued that X routinely ignored copyright infringement, contrasting its practices with platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, which they claimed properly license music.

However, X Corp had previously seen success in the legal proceedings. In 2024, a U.S. District Judge dismissed much of the labels' lawsuit, ruling that X could not be held liable for direct or vicarious copyright infringement. Only a portion of the publishers' contributory infringement claim was allowed to proceed.

Adding another layer to the conflict, X Corp filed a countersuit in a Texas federal court in January. The company accused the music labels and their trade group, the National Music Publishers Association, of violating federal antitrust laws. X alleged that the publishers conspired to hinder competition and forced the platform to license their music at inflated prices.

Spokespeople for X Corp and the music labels did not immediately comment on the settlement details or whether a formal resolution had been reached. The court filings requested the dismissal of all claims with prejudice, meaning the lawsuits cannot be refiled.