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Warner Music Accuses Ray-Ban Parent of Copyright Infringement
12 Oct
Summary
- Warner Music Group is suing EssilorLuxottica for $64 million in damages.
- The lawsuit claims hundreds of WMG's songs were used in ads without permission.
- Unlicensed music allegedly boosted eyewear sales and brand profiles.
Warner Music Group (WMG) has initiated legal action against EssilorLuxottica, the Italian conglomerate that owns brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Sunglass Hut. The lawsuit, filed recently, accuses EssilorLuxottica of infringing on 427 copyrights owned by WMG by using their music in social media advertisements without proper licensing or compensation.
WMG is seeking substantial damages, totaling up to $64 million, based on the maximum statutory amount of $150,000 per infringed work. The music company contends that EssilorLuxottica has regularly exploited unlicensed music across major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, reaching over 36 million followers.
The lawsuit highlights that these unauthorized music placements were part of "wildly successful" advertising campaigns that generated billions in revenue for the eyewear company. WMG asserts that EssilorLuxottica benefited from these copyrighted works to build its brand and increase sales, while cutting out the rights holders, artists, and songwriters.
This legal action is part of a broader trend of major music rights holders targeting corporate social media accounts for using unlicensed tracks. While individual users on platforms like Instagram and TikTok may utilize blanket licenses, commercial entities are required to secure specific synchronization licenses for music in advertising, akin to traditional media placements.
