Vondran Legal® - Copyright Infringement Defense - Universal Music Group ("UMG") letters.  If you received a legal demand letter or email from a representative of UMG, call us BEFORE you call or engage with them.  We can be reached at (877) 276-5084.

Introduction

As a copyright infringement attorney, I am seeing more letters pop up from Universal Music Group.  The letters can be intimidating and accuse you or your company (both content creators and music and video distributors may be named in the letter), demanding that you TAKEDOWN your videos off social media platforms and streaming services such as:

• iTunes
• Amazon
• YouTube
• Google Play
• Other

The letter may go on to request that you provide an accounting of all revenues made from the distribution of the allegedly infringing third-party content.  If you receive one of these letters, don't make the mistake of emailing them, or worse, calling them to explain "I'm sorry" or "I didn't know" or "I thought this was fair use."  Talk to an intellectual property lawyer familiar with fair use defenses, potential copyright infringement defenses and mitigating factors so you don't have to walk back your comments that may be too late to retract.

Who is Universal Music Group?

According to their website:

"We are Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company. We exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. We are a community of entrepreneurs committed to creativity and innovation. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 territories. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world. Our vast catalog of recordings and songs stretches back over a century and comprises the largest, most diverse and culturally rich collection of music ever assembled. As digital technology refashions the world, our unmatched commitment to lead in developing new services, platforms and business models for the delivery of music and related content empowers innovators and allows new commercial and artistic opportunities to flourish. Knowing that music, a powerful force for good in the world, is unique in its ability to inspire people and bring them together, we work with our artists and employees to serve our communities.We are the home for music's greatest artists, innovators and entrepreneurs.Together, we are UMG, the Universal Music Group."

Artists they represent

Here is a list of artists represented by UMG.  Some of the popular ones include:

• Justin Beiber
• Ace of Bass
• U2
• Backstreet Boys
• Beastie Boys
• Pat Benetar
• Luke Bryan
• Greenday
• Lady Gaga
• The Go-Go's
• Heart
• Madonna
• Bob Marley
• Maroon 5
• John Cougar Mellencamp
• George Michael
• Prince
• Michael Jackson
• Wang Chung
• The Who
• Stevie Wonder
• Vanilla Ice

Exclusive rights to enforce copyrights?

Their letter may represent that they have the exclusive rights to enforce copyrights on behalf of their artists.  This needs to be examined closely.

Does UMG file federal court infringement lawsuits?

I have reviewed the federal court dockets.  Universal Music Group does not seem to file federal court lawsuits for copyright infringement.  

I did not see them filing suit as a Plaintiff, unless they are going under another name.

At any rate, you should still take their demand letters very seriously, or you could end up in federal court fighting a protracted and expensive legal battle.

Contact a California Copyright, Music, and Fair Use Law Firm

Our firm is a nationwide leader in copyright infringement defense.  We have appeared in over 500 federal court litigation cases, and Unicourt has identified Vondran Legal® as the NUMBER ONE copyright infringement defense firm in the United States (in terms of number of cases handled) for the years 2020, and 2021.  We have not heard on 2022 or 2023 but we expect a repeat of our great success.  

Call us to discuss your case at (877) 276-5084 or fill out our contact form and we will reach out to you to discuss your case in confidence.