Wixen Music Publishing Inc last week sued music streaming giant Spotify for allegedly using thousands of songs without a license and compensation to the music publisher.
ADVERTISEMENTThe music in question included hits like "Free Fallin" by Tom Petty, "(Girl We Got a) Good Thing" by Weezer and “Light My Fire” by the Doors, for which Wixen is an exclusive licensee.
The music publisher said in a lawsuit filed in a California federal court that Spotify failed to get a direct or compulsory license that would allow it to reproduce and distribute the songs.
Wixen also alleged that Spotify outsourced work to licensing and royalty services provider the Harry Fox Agency, which was “ill-equipped to obtain all the necessary mechanical licenses”.
It was seeking damages worth at least $1.6 billion along with injunctive relief.
Spotify, a Stockholm-based company, agreed to pay over $43 million (€36 million) to settle a proposed class action alleging it failed to pay royalties for some of the songs available on its streaming platform back in May 2017.
Wixen also covers music by Rage Against the Machine, Steely Dan and Stevie Nicks.