Bill Donahue
@billdonahue.bsky.social
legal reporter @billboard.com, covering music and the law. my newsletter, The Legal Beat, drops every tuesday afternoon.
send me tips, pitches, leaks, gripes at: bdonahue@billboard.com.
read my stuff: https://www.billboard.com/author/bill-donahue/
send me tips, pitches, leaks, gripes at: bdonahue@billboard.com.
read my stuff: https://www.billboard.com/author/bill-donahue/
the judge did so multiple times:
February 12, 2025 at 1:55 PM
the judge did so multiple times:
And for more big picture context on Spotify/UMG/streaming royalties, go read @wordsbykristin.bsky.social's great analysis about what comes next... www.billboard.com/pro/spotify-...
The Spotify/UMG Deal Signals Hope for Publishers — What Comes Next?
Spotify's new direct deal with the Universal Music Group is good news for publishers and songwriters. Will other companies get to benefit as well?
www.billboard.com
January 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
And for more big picture context on Spotify/UMG/streaming royalties, go read @wordsbykristin.bsky.social's great analysis about what comes next... www.billboard.com/pro/spotify-...
Full opinion in the MLC v. Spotify case: www.scribd.com/document/821...
MLC v. Spotify
A ruling for Spotify dismissing a lawsuit from the Mechanical Licensing Collective that accused the streamer of using "bundled" status to unfairly slash royalty rates.
www.scribd.com
January 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Full opinion in the MLC v. Spotify case: www.scribd.com/document/821...
And don't forget when Luke Combs (apparently without his knowledge) sued one of his own fans in one of these cases. The woman sold 18 tumblers for a total of $380; she was ordered to pay $250,000 in damages.
www.billboard.com/business/leg...
www.billboard.com/business/leg...
Luke Combs Accidentally Sued a Fan For $250,000. Now He’s Apologizing and Sending Her Thousands
Luke Combs apologized after he accidentally sued fan Nicol Harness in federal court and won a $250,000 judgment against her for selling merchandise.
www.billboard.com
January 8, 2025 at 3:17 PM
And don't forget when Luke Combs (apparently without his knowledge) sued one of his own fans in one of these cases. The woman sold 18 tumblers for a total of $380; she was ordered to pay $250,000 in damages.
www.billboard.com/business/leg...
www.billboard.com/business/leg...
The entire thing is so bizarre and has never made much sense. I first caught wind back in 2016 when Coach was accused of basically destroying a mom-and-pop second-hand vendor: www.law360.com/articles/834...
Caught In The Anti-Counterfeit Gears, Small Co. Fights Back - Law360
Brands fighting against a flood of online counterfeits use mass-defendant lawsuits in an effort to stem the tide, but sometimes they accidentally sweep up legitimate vendors who say they’ve done nothi...
www.law360.com
January 8, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The entire thing is so bizarre and has never made much sense. I first caught wind back in 2016 when Coach was accused of basically destroying a mom-and-pop second-hand vendor: www.law360.com/articles/834...
The new motion confirms that it was Jay-Z behind the mysterious extortion lawsuit filed against Tony Buzbee by a unnamed celebrity last month: www.billboard.com/pro/diddy-ac...
Diddy Accuser Lawyer Faces Extortion Lawsuit From Unnamed Celebrity Over Threats to Sue
Diddy accuser lawyer Tony Buzbee is facing an extortion lawsuit from an unnamed celebrity who says he was threatened with fake abuse claims.
www.billboard.com
December 9, 2024 at 5:53 PM
The new motion confirms that it was Jay-Z behind the mysterious extortion lawsuit filed against Tony Buzbee by a unnamed celebrity last month: www.billboard.com/pro/diddy-ac...