X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against music publishers and the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The lawsuit alleges that the NMPA and music publishers have been using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to pressure X into industrywide licensing agreements, hindering competition.
According to the lawsuit, the NMPA inundated X with DMCA takedown notices weekly in 2021, aiming to force industrywide licensing deals. X claims that this tactic was used to intimidate the platform and coerce it into collective negotiations with music publishers.
The legal move is the latest development in an ongoing dispute between X and the music industry. X has faced copyright challenges since Musk’s involvement, such as the unauthorized postings of the entire Super Mario Bros. Movie on the platform. The NMPA had previously sued X for alleged massive copyright infringement.
X is seeking financial damages and legal protection from being coerced into collective negotiations with music publishers. The lawsuit represents a significant escalation in the conflict between tech platforms and music industry stakeholders.
Source: The Verge