Beyoncé and Harry Styles in Trouble? USC Settles Sony Lawsuit Over Unlicensed Song Use in Sports Social Media

The University of Southern California (USC) and Sony Music have reached a tentative settlement to resolve a copyright infringement lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by Sony, accused USC of using hundreds of unlicensed songs by well-known artists such as Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, and Travis Scott in promotional videos on Instagram and TikTok. A court notice on Wednesday, March 25, in New York confirmed the agreement, requesting a suspension of procedural deadlines to finalize the settlement, the terms of which have not yet been disclosed.

This settlement ends the legal dispute that began almost a year ago, setting a precedent in the use of copyrighted music on social media platforms.

Sony's lawsuit, filed almost a year ago, specified that USC's sports social media accounts had posted over 250 videos featuring over 170 unlicensed songs owned by Sony Music. Hits on the Billboard Hot 100 included “Break My Soul” by Beyoncé, “As It Was” by Harry Styles, “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars, and “Sicko Mode” by Travis Scott. The lawsuit alleged that USC could have purchased synchronization licenses for these songs, especially considering the university generates over $200 million in annual revenue.

Sony sought maximum damages of $150,000 per allegedly infringed song, which could have totaled over $25 million.

In response to the lawsuit, a USC representative stated that the university respects intellectual property rights and would respond to the allegations in court. Prior to the settlement, USC's court filings focused on the issue of jurisdiction, arguing that it was not appropriate for the California-based institution to be sued in New York. This initial approach changed with the out-of-court settlement.

The practice of suing corporate social media accounts for music licensing has become common in recent years, with companies like Chili’s, NBA teams, and Crumbl also facing similar legal actions.

Record companies require commercial accounts to acquire synchronization licenses to use their musical material, unlike blanket licenses that allow individual users to use songs from pre-approved libraries on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This distinction is key in copyright lawsuits, as the commercial use of music without the proper license can result in costly lawsuits.

The lawsuit against USC highlights the importance of complying with copyright laws in the digital realm, especially for organizations with significant revenue and social media presence.

The resolution of the lawsuit between Sony and USC underscores the increasing attention of record companies in protecting their copyrights in the digital environment. The proliferation of content on social media and the ease with which music can be used without a license have led to an increase in legal actions against companies and organizations. The music industry is taking steps to ensure that intellectual property rights are respected, which includes requiring synchronization licenses for the commercial use of music.

The USC case serves as a reminder to other organizations about the importance of obtaining the necessary licenses before using music on their social media platforms.