The musician and music rights activist sued Spotify for $150 million. David Lowery is suing in behalf of all the artists that Spotify did not pay.
According to Billboard, Lowery with Camper Van Beethoven went to the law firm Michelman & Robinson, LLP, and has filed class action lawsuit. They are asking Spotify at least $150 million in damages because allegedly it deliberately, freely, and unlawfully reproduces and distributes copyrighted compositions without getting mechanical licenses. Billboard added that Spotify still has an ongoing settlement discussion with National Music Publishers Assn. over the supposed use of allowing users to play music that hasn't been correctly licensed, also, for not paying royalties to the music publishers and songwriters. A reserve fund was said has been created by Spotify with a $17 million to $25 million for paying royalties and for pending and unmatched song use.
Lowery said in his blog that Spotify intentionally did not license many of the songs which imply the large scale copyright infringement it did, Gizmodo reported. His complaint stated that Spotify knew what it was doing was illegal and it still continued doing so. The complaint pointed out the statutory penalties jump from $750-30,000 per song to up to $150,000 per song for willful infringement. Their complaint also explained that if they win, it would legally prevent Spotify to play any songs owned by Lowery and all the other artists in the suit since it qualifies as a class action.
The Verge told that Jonathan Prince, Spotify's global head of communications explained that Spotify is committed into paying all of the songwriters and publishers every penny they can. However, in the United States, the data needed to verify the proper rights holders are often absent, incorrect, or incomplete. Royalties are set aside for the unclear rights holders until they are able to confirm their identities.
This is not the first time Spotify has been sued. This is also not the first time Lowery did something for the sake of musicians and artists.
