# Universal Music Group Takes Legal Action Against Believe Over Suspected Piracy on Streaming Services
Universal Music Group (UMG), a leading entity in the music industry worldwide, has initiated legal proceedings against the French music distribution firm Believe and its American offshoot, TuneCore. The legal action, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses Believe of facilitating the distribution of pirated versions of well-known songs across prominent streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and TikTok. UMG alleges that Believe has deliberately permitted deceitful artists to upload falsified spellings of famous artists’ names and tracks, thus profiting from copyright violations.
## Claims of Piracy and Deceptive Artists
The focus of UMG’s lawsuit is the assertion that Believe has been disseminating pirated tracks from globally recognized artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Lady Gaga. The pirated songs are frequently uploaded under slight variations of their original titles, including “Kendrik Laamar,” “Arriana Gramde,” “Jutin Biber,” and “Llady Gaga.” The lawsuit also highlights additional cases where Believe purportedly shared sped-up or remixed renditions of hit songs, including Rihanna’s “S&M” registered as “Rihamna” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” listed under the name “INDRAGERSN.”
UMG asserts that Believe’s business practices are “driven by rampant piracy” and that the firm has disregarded the reality that many of its clients are counterfeit artists. UMG contends that Believe’s artist roster is “flooded with bogus ‘artists’ and pirate record labels” that depend on Believe’s distribution channels to circulate unauthorized copies of copyrighted music throughout the digital soundscape.
## Believe’s International Presence and Business Strategy
Believe is a publicly-listed entity with a substantial global footprint, employing approximately 2,020 individuals across more than 50 nations. In the first half of 2024 alone, the company recorded revenues of $518 million (474.1 million euros). Believe’s expressed goal is to foster the growth of independent artists and labels within the digital realm, having established licensing arrangements with leading online platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, TikTok, and Instagram.
Nonetheless, UMG asserts that Believe’s swift expansion and financial success have been partially attributable to its distribution of pirated materials. The lawsuit indicates that Believe has distributed “millions of sound recordings to digital service providers,” a figure that UMG claims surpasses the authentic recordings provided by major labels and credible independent labels collectively.
## UMG’s Legal Requests
UMG is pursuing both injunctive relief and monetary restitution via the lawsuit. Specifically, the organization seeks the maximum statutory compensation of $150,000 for each infringed work or, alternatively, actual damages alongside Believe’s earnings derived from the infringement. UMG has included two exhibits detailing 1,380 alleged infringed works but anticipates that further investigation will uncover additional instances of piracy.
Beyond financial redress, UMG aims to prevent Believe from perpetuating the distribution of pirated materials. The lawsuit emphasizes that even after disputes on platforms like YouTube were resolved in UMG’s favor, Believe persisted in distributing the same infringing tracks to other digital music platforms while seeking to collect royalties on them.
## Believe’s Reaction
In light of the lawsuit, Believe has refuted the accusations and committed to contesting the claims in court. In a communication to *Ars Technica*, the company stressed its commitment to copyright enforcement and has implemented “robust tools and processes” to combat piracy. Believe also referenced its strong standing within the digital music sector, claiming “Tier 1 status” and inclusion in the Preferred Partner Program across all prominent music retailers.
“We firmly deny these allegations and the assertions made by Universal Music Group, and we will vigorously defend against them,” Believe stated. The company further emphasized its nearly two-decade legacy of endorsing independent artists and labels, asserting itself as a vital participant in the digital music realm.
## Broader Consequences for the Music Sector
This legal confrontation arises during a period when the music industry is contending with the challenges posed by digital piracy and the emergence of independent distribution channels. While firms like Believe have been instrumental in expanding access to music distribution for independent creators, they have also faced backlash for their insufficient measures to curb the dissemination of pirated content.
The lawsuit initiated by UMG against Believe has the potential to establish a crucial legal precedent regarding how digital music distributors are held accountable for the content they disseminate. Should UMG succeed in its legal endeavor, it may usher in more stringent regulations and oversight for companies distributing music on streaming services. This could, in turn, significantly influence how independent artists and labels operate within the digital music marketplace.
## Summary
The legal dispute between Universal Music Group and Believe
