X, Twitter Music Copyright Lawsuit Moves Forward, Green Light for NMPA’s Case

Twitter's music copyright lawsuit still applies for X, and the plaintiffs are now given the green light to move forward with their complaints against the company's violations. The massive copyright infringement case against Twitter, now X, centers on its users who post copyrighted music on the platform and get away with doing so, claiming that the social media network is liable.

Previously, X filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit but the judge denied this filing as the claims present massive liability to the company that will be unveiled in the case's progression.

X, Twitter's Music Copyright Lawsuit from NMPA Gets Green Light

US District Judge Aleta A. Trauger revealed in a filing that it denied X's motion to dismiss the case against them, now giving the National Music Publishers' Association a green light to move forward with their lawsuit. This centers on the complaints against the now X platform and its users for engaging in music copyright infringement acts from the posts available online.

This copyright complaint stems from December 2021, back when X was still Twitter, and it was a public company with Jack Dorsey, its founder, leading as CEO. It was said that Twitter was sent infringement notices "weekly."

The NMPA represent labels including Universal Music Group, Concord Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Sony Music Publishing, and more.

X Music Copyright Case: Infringement on the Platform

Judge Trauger allowed several claims from the NMPA to stand, including allegations behind X allowing users to "more forgiving treatment under its anti-infringement policies" by paying for the premium subscription, a.k.a. X Premium and formerly, Twitter Blue.

The complaint about "repeat infringers" with X letting them do their bidding and failing to take action also stands despite the social media's motion to dismiss it.

However, the US judge dismissed NMPA's claims about X engaging in direct copyright violations and being "vicariously liable" for its users' actions on the platform.

Elon Musk and X's Music Infringement Lawsuit

Last year, when the short-word social media is still known as Twitter, it faced a lawsuit from the NMPA, representing various music labels, for music copyright infringement present on the platform. The suit is massive as it seeks a whopping $150,000 per music infringed on the platform, with the lawsuit detailing as much as 1,700 songs used on Twitter without permission.

It brings the total to a $255 million payout to the labels for their hand on this, with Twitter remaining as the only social media that does not pay music royalties to its owners.

Moreover, Elon Musk is also known for their massive fight against the DMCA, going as far as to call the law a "plague on humanity."

The renowned fight of the NMPA and music labels against X predates the Musk acquisition and takeover, with Twitter facing this problem already, made liable for its users. Now, the case got its traction from the court, given a go signal to proceed, taking the fight to the current owner and executives of the platform and sorting out its alleged music infringement and the social media's tolerance of it.