Music can be found on Twitter. Unlike Facebook, the regulations for using various music in a video are more lax in the Bird app. For example, Nicki Minaj stans, Barbz, can freely use any music from the Queen of Rap's discography to create what is now known as a "fan-cam."
If the same were posted on Facebook, it would most likely be banned, muted, or taken down immediately. Now, major music publishers are finally taking action.
Music Publishers vs Twitter Lawsuit
According to a Variety report, the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) launched a federal copyright infringement lawsuit against the social media platform Twitter for its "failure to license and pay" the music widely available on the platform.
Per the lawsuit, a hefty amount of $250 million is being sought from Twitter in damages for hundreds and thousands of "noticed infringements," - amounting to an estimated 1,700 infringed works.
The NMPA also added that the platform "consistently and knowingly hosts and streams" these infringed copies. They also argued that the platform "routinely continues," providing such infringers with platform and profits "handsomely" on the infringed works.
"Twitter's unlawful conduct has caused and continues to cause substantial and irreparable harm to Publishers, their songwriter clients, and the entire music ecosystem. Twitter's unlawful conduct enriches Twitter at Publishers' and their songwriters' expense and to the detriment of their copyrighted musical compositions," a statement from the NMPA read.
Apparently, Twitter has been uncooperative with the resolution of the lawsuit as they had "rebuffed" calls from them to obtain the necessary licenses for the said infringed works.
Twitter wasn't the only one confronted by the NMPA. The publication also reported that Twitch, Peloton, Roblox, and especially TikTok, have been faced with similar legal action. However, Twitter was the only one who has since been elusive.
Elon Musk on Twitter
Notably, Twitter had a change of leadership in the past year. Billionaire Elon Musk has since taken over the social media giant and has since instituted changes that have continued to bug users, including businesses, publications, normal people, and even celebrities.
Multiple layoffs in the company took place in the past few months. Stories of the alleged toxic working environment inside the company have also come about recently.
Sony Music Publishing, Big Machine Records, BMG Rights Management, Hipgnosis Songs Group, and even UMPG were part of the 17 major music publishers who have sued Twitter.
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