X Sues Music Publishers Over DMCA Takedowns

X has initiated legal action against the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) and several music publishers. The lawsuit was filed on Friday as an antitrust complaint.

The platform, owned by Elon Musk, alleges that the publishers and their trade group are engaging in collusion. Specifically, X claims the defendants are attempting to coerce the platform into accepting licensing terms for musical works across the entire industry.

X argues that this alleged collusion prevents the platform from benefiting from competition between different music publishers. Additionally, the lawsuit accuses the NMPA and its members of 'weaponizing' the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). They allegedly used DMCA takedown requests to target content on the platform.

X has officially sued the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) and associated music publishers. The lawsuit was filed on Friday, marking a significant legal escalation in the dispute.

The core of the complaint is an antitrust claim. X alleges that the defendants are working together to force specific licensing terms upon the platform. According to the filing, this behavior is intended to deny X the competitive advantages usually found in free-market negotiations.

The lawsuit details specific accusations regarding the behavior of the trade group and its members. X asserts that the collective action taken by the publishers violates antitrust principles.

The lawsuit accuses the music publishers of colluding with the NMPA. X claims the goal of this collusion is to "coerce X into taking licenses to musical works from the industry as a whole."

X argues that this approach eliminates the ability to negotiate with individual publishers. The platform claims this denies it "the benefit of competition between music publishers."

By forcing a blanket licensing approach, the publishers allegedly prevent X from securing potentially more favorable terms through individual negotiations. The lawsuit frames this as a direct attempt to stifle competition.

A major component of the lawsuit involves the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). X claims that the NMPA and the publishers have "weaponized" this legislation.

The complaint alleges that the defendants utilized DMCA requests to take down content allegedly infringing on copyrights. X suggests that these takedown requests were not merely about protecting copyright, but were used as a tool in the broader licensing dispute.

This accusation implies that the legal mechanisms designed to protect intellectual property were being leveraged for commercial leverage in the ongoing battle over licensing terms.

This lawsuit is the latest development in a prolonged conflict between X and the music industry. The dispute centers on how the platform licenses musical works for use by its users.

The involvement of the NMPA highlights the trade group's role in representing the interests of music publishers. As X continues to evolve its platform, securing proper licensing remains a critical operational and legal challenge.

The outcome of this antitrust lawsuit could set a precedent for how social media platforms negotiate with content owners in the future. It pits the concept of collective industry bargaining against the desire for competitive, individualized licensing deals.