A major scandal has hit the NBA as more than a dozen teams are now entangled in copyright lawsuits from Kobalt and other music companies. The allegations? NBA Teams Sued for unauthorized use of popular songs in social media videos.
Music Heist: NBA Teams Sued for Stealing Hits by Jay-Z and Cardi B
On Friday, 14 separate lawsuits were filed in federal court. Each suit accuses an NBA team of using copyrighted music in promotional content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). The goal? To boost viewership and engage fans. However, these actions have landed the teams in hot water.
Take the New York Knicks, for instance. The lawsuit claims the team used tracks by local legends Jay-Z and Cardi B without permission. Similarly, the Philadelphia 76ers are accused of using Meek Mill’s music, while the Atlanta Hawks allegedly used hits from Atlanta’s own Migos and OutKast.
The accusations are damning. The music companies argue that these NBA teams, despite being sophisticated entities, blatantly disregarded copyright laws. “Defendants are acutely aware of the protections that the copyright laws of the United States afford,” the lawsuits state. The teams are accused of using their own legal protections while infringing on the intellectual property rights of others knowingly and willfully.
In addition to the Knicks, 76ers, and Hawks, the lawsuits also target the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs.
The NBA has yet to comment on these allegations.
Joining Kobalt in these lawsuits are Artist Publishing Group, Notting Hill Music, and Prescription Songs. These companies assert that while social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok offer libraries of licensed music for user-generated content, these licenses do not cover commercial or promotional videos posted by brands, which require separate synchronization licenses.
This isn’t the first time music owners have clamped down on brands misusing their content. Drink maker Bang Energy faced similar lawsuits from all three major labels for using copyrighted songs in TikTok videos, resulting in Universal and Sony winning judgments. Even the owner of the “Space Jam” song has taken legal action against various entities, including a minor league baseball team.
Just earlier this month, the Beastie Boys sued Chili’s for using their hit “Sabotage” in promotional social media clips.
As the dust settles, the real question is: will this lawsuit serve as a wake-up call for brands, including major sports teams, to respect intellectual property laws? It seems this legal battle is just heating up, and the consequences could be far-reaching.
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