Amid a growing number of lawsuits over the unauthorized use of music in social marketing, Universal Music Group (UMG) is suing the owner of US Tex-Mex restaurant chain Chili’s, accusing it of infringing on its copyright in numerous social media posts.
In a complaint filed in federal court in Dallas on Tuesday (October 8), UMG-owned record labels and music publishers said Chili’s owners Brink International “Failed to Pay…Music to Soundtrack Chili Social Media Ad” Published on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and Youtube.
Complaint Alleges Song Released and Recorded Infringes Music Copyright Aba, ariana grande, justin bieber, nicki minaj, Shania Twain,as well as hot girl. It also cited alleged copyright infringement of the track weekend and Lana Del Reyand infringement of publishing copyright freeof OK nowwait.
As of mid-2024, Chili’s has 1,214 There are 344 stores across the United States, the vast majority of which are company-owned, and 344 stores outside the United States, most of which are franchised stores. Brinker reports $4.42 billion Revenue for the fiscal year ending June 26, 2024.
Complaints listed in total 38 Alleged infringement of recording copyright, and 42 Suspected of infringement of publishing copyright. A total of 80 infringements could subject Brinker to liability under U.S. copyright law for up to $12 million In statutory damages.
Plaintiffs in lawsuit include record companies capitol records and Universal Music Groupand publisher universal music corp., PolyGram Publishing Company, Universal’s Song, Universal Music – MGB NA LLCand Universal Music – Z Tunes LLC.
Brink “It’s clear [UMG] and its music catalog and has licensed certain musical works, including as recently as 2023. [UMG’s] The complaint alleges that work was performed without permits or payment.
The complaint describes the alleged infringement as “willful” and says Brinker International includes “successful companies that promote multiple restaurant franchises and protect their intellectual property interests through their own legal departments.”
UMG also accused Brink of “not having effective procedures in place to ensure that social media content posted for its Chili Commercial Restaurant business does not infringe the copyrights of others.”
UMG’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting Brinker’s companies from continuing to use UMG’s music in existing or future social media posts and damages “in an amount to be proven at trial.”
The lawsuit was filed on the same day Sony Music Entertainment and Marriott International Hotel United has withdrawn a copyright infringement lawsuit that accused the hotel chain of unauthorized use of Sony music in its social media posts.
It’s unclear from court documents whether Sony and Marriott have reached an out-of-court settlement. Sony declined to comment for this story.
Lawsuits over the unauthorized use of music in social media posts have surged in recent years.
Last summer, 14 NBA team sued kobalt music publishing co., ltd., Artist Publishing Group, and others allegedly using unlicensed music on their social media channels and NBA.com website.
September, Related production music (APM), jointly owned Sony Music Publishing and universal music publishing corp.sue American Hockey League Alleged “rampant” copyright infringement in social media posts.
Also last month, APM sued pharmaceutical and home products giant Johnson & Johnson It is suspected of infringing the copyright of promotional videos posted by the company on Facebook and YouTube.
At the end of 2023, Sony Music sued cosmetics brands French Financial Supervisory Authority – Among them are 1.7 million Fans on Instagram alone were criticized by followers for “blatant, willful, and repeated infringement” of Sony’s copyright on “hundreds” of songs.global music business
