Universal Music Files A Lawsuit Over Prisoners Receiving Copyrighted Music

Universal Music isn't too happy with the mixtape game. Universal is ready to cut off an integral part of the mixtape game, filing a lawsuit against a group of companies including the Centric Group and Keefe Group for distributing certain "care packages" to prisoners. Universal Music's complaint derived from prisoners receiving mixtapes with copyrighted music from the likes of Eminem, James Brown, and more

"Defendants boast on their website that their business 'was developed to eliminate contraband,' yet the infringing copies of Plaintiffs’ sound recordings and musical compositions, in which Defendants unlawfully transact and from which they unjustly profit, are contraband personified," stated the lawsuit.

Universal validated their logic behind killing off the mixtape purchases by stating the following. "Such so-called 'mixtapes,' unless authorized by the copyright owner or owner of corresponding state law rights, are nothing more than collections of infringing, piratical compilations of copyrighted or otherwise legally protected sound recordings and copyrighted musical composition," states the lawsuit.

Universal is seeking $150,000 per each copyrighted work infringed upon. That's a lot of dough. Universal is ready to stack their chips off your favorite rappers.

A couple of months ago, Universal sued VH1 DJ Competition use lots of unlicensed music.

[The Hollywood Reporter]

Filed Under: Universal Music

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