Key Takeaways
- The X antitrust lawsuit music publishers case involves claims that major music publishers coordinated actions to harm competition in music licensing.
- X accuses the NMPA of misusing the DMCA by sending excessive takedown notices, disrupting platform operations since 2021.
- This case follows earlier disputes, including a 2023 lawsuit by the NMPA against X for copyright infringement involving many songs.
- X seeks financial damages and court orders to prevent collective pressure in licensing negotiations and wants to negotiate individually with publishers.
- The outcome could significantly impact music licensing practices on social platforms.
The X antitrust lawsuit music publishers dispute centers on a new federal court filing in Texas. X has sued major music publishers and the National Music Publishers’ Association, known as the NMPA. The case claims coordinated actions harmed competition in music licensing. X states the lawsuit addresses how music rights are negotiated on digital platforms.
According to the filing, X says publishers refused to negotiate individual licensing deals. Instead, the company claims they acted together through the NMPA. X argues this blocked fair competition and forced platforms toward uniform licensing terms.
Allegations involving DMCA takedowns
In the X antitrust lawsuit music publishers case, X accuses the NMPA and its members of misusing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The complaint says publishers sent large volumes of takedown notices. X claims this activity increased sharply starting in 2021.
The lawsuit states these notices targeted user posts that included music. X says the scale of the takedowns disrupted platform operations. The company also says the actions pressured X into accepting industry wide licensing demands. X describes this as a coordinated effort rather than normal copyright enforcement.
History of disputes between X and music publishers
This legal action follows earlier conflicts between X and the music industry. In 2023, the NMPA sued X for alleged copyright infringement. That case involved more than 1,700 songs and requested hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
Court records show parts of the earlier lawsuit continued through 2025. Both sides reported progress toward resolution. The new antitrust filing runs parallel to those past claims and shifts focus toward competition law.
What X is seeking from the court
Through the X antitrust lawsuit music publishers case, X is requesting financial damages. The company also wants court orders that prevent collective pressure during licensing talks. X asks for the right to negotiate directly with individual publishers.
The lawsuit states this outcome would support competitive licensing practices. The NMPA has previously said X failed to properly license music. Public responses to this specific filing remained limited at the time of reporting.
The case could shape how music licensing works across social platforms.