NBA Teams Sued for Copyright Infringement in Social Media Videos

More than a dozen NBA teams are embroiled in copyright lawsuits filed by Kobalt and other music companies. The allegations center around the teams using copyrighted songs in promotional videos on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) without obtaining the necessary permissions. The lawsuits claim the teams aimed to boost viewership and engage fans using these songs.

Specific cases highlight the use of songs by prominent local artists: the New York Knicks are accused of using tracks by Jay-Z and Cardi B, the Philadelphia 76ers of using Meek Mill’s music, and the Atlanta Hawks of featuring songs by Migos and OutKast. The overarching allegation is that these sophisticated corporate entities knowingly infringed on copyright laws while protecting their own intellectual property.

The lawsuits also underscore that while social media platforms provide vast libraries of licensed music, commercial or promotional use by brands requires a separate synchronization license. This issue has led to increasing enforcement by music owners, as seen in similar lawsuits against other brands and organizations in recent years. The NBA has yet to comment on these allegations.