Sony Music is suing the University of Southern California in federal court, alleging that USC social media channels engaged in repeated copyright violations through the unauthorized use of popular music tracks.
Sony Music and several record labels filed the lawsuit on March 11 in the Southern District of New York, alleging that the university posted more than 250 videos on its social media pages that infringed on the copyrights governing more than 170 Sony Music recordings, including tracks by artists such as AC/DC, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd.
The entertainment company is seeking statutory damages for each copyrighted song of $150,000, meaning that potential total damages could reach more than $25.5 million. Sony Music is also asking the court for attorney-fee reimbursement, prejudgment and post-judgment interest, a full accounting of the value USC derived from any unauthorized uses of the musical tracks in question and an injunction to prevent USC from engaging in any future infringement activities.
The university rejects the allegations in the federal lawsuit.
“USC respects the intellectual property rights of others and will respond to these allegations in court,” a university statement emailed to the Southern California Record says.
The lawsuit argues that USC is profiting from its college sports programs to the tune of $200 million and that this has come without paying compensation for the artists’ material, which the university has allegedly been using without proper authority.
“USC’s strategic use of social media marketing has been remarkably broad and successful,” the lawsuit states. “USC’s football program led the nation in digital engagement and amassed nearly 21 million video views across social media platforms in September 2024 alone.”
Sony Music has also notified USC on several occasions about its concerns about the alleged copyright infringements. This occurred in June 2021, in January 2023 and in July 2024, according to the legal complaint.
Even after the first warning, the university intentionally disregarded advice that it seek permission or pay for the use of the music recordings, the lawsuit states.
“Rather than cease this infringing conduct, USC chose to (flout) copyright law, repeatedly posting new videos to the USC Social Media Pages that use Sony Music sound recordings knowingly and willfully and without permission,” the complaint says.
The lawsuit indicates that Sony Music and USC have engaged in some settlement discussions starting in August of last year and continuing through January of this year. But USC has declined to take the needed actions to remedy the alleged copyright infringements, Sony Music’s attorneys argued.
A list of more than 250 videos that USC posted across 30 of its social media accounts is listed in an exhibit attached to the lawsuit.
Media outlets have reported that the litigation against USC follows similar complaints that Sony Music has filed against other defendants, including Marriott International; Chili’s parent company, Brinker International; NBA teams; and several American Hockey League teams.
Songs in the Sony music catalog that the lawsuit against USC singles out include “Gimme More” by Britney Spears, “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé, “Beat It” by Michael Jackson, “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey and “My Heart Will Go On” by Céline Dion.
Many of the alleged copyright infringements occurred on TikTok and Instagram posts, according to the lawsuit.