The suit against Likee, the popular short-video creation app, was confronted with a twin-edged decision by a California federal judge recently. While the company behind Likee was released from BMG’s direct infringement claim, it was unable to entirely escape the music publishing giant’s grasp. The judge ruled in favor of a slimmed version of BMG’s copyright lawsuit, which accused the app of exploiting artists’ music without their consent. This effectively sustained BMG’s claim of contributory infringement.
BMG alleges that Likee employs artists’ music without obtaining the necessary permission, thereby violating copyright regulations. Despite the partial dismissal of their case, BMG’s accusation of contributory infringement against the creators of Likee remains very much alive and will face further legal examination.
For a more detailed examination of the case, Law360 provides a comprehensive analysis.