Johnson & Johnson, a major pharmaceutical company, is facing a legal battle over allegations of copyright infringement. Associated Production Music (APM), a joint venture between Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing, has filed a lawsuit in a Los Angeles federal court, accusing Johnson & Johnson of using their copyrighted instrumental music without permission in numerous online videos.
The lawsuit claims that Johnson & Johnson has used nearly 80 videos featuring unlicensed tracks from APM, distributed across YouTube and Facebook. APM alleges that despite repeated attempts to notify the company about the unlicensed use, Johnson & Johnson failed to obtain the necessary licenses or acknowledge any wrongdoing.
The heart of the issue lies in the synchronization rights. APM asserts that Johnson & Johnson failed to secure authorization to use APM’s music in conjunction with their videos, a violation of copyright law. The lawsuit specifies 30 different APM songs used by Johnson & Johnson, highlighting the extent of the alleged infringement.
While these songs might not be mainstream hits, the lawsuit underscores the potential financial consequences of using copyrighted material without a license. Under federal copyright law, Johnson & Johnson could face substantial damages. If the court determines that the company’s actions were intentional, they could be fined up to $150,000 per song, potentially totaling nearly $12 million for the 79 videos involved.
The lawsuit serves as a reminder of the importance of securing proper music licenses for any commercial use, even for seemingly less popular tracks. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how companies approach music licensing in the digital age.
JNJ stock was down 1.50% at $164.87 at the last check on Wednesday.
