Sony Music sued the University of Southern California over the unauthorized synchronization of more than 170 copyrighted tracks across 250-plus social media videos. The major label pursued maximum statutory damages of $150,000 per infringement, pointing to the college’s $200 million annual athletic revenue as proof of its capacity to secure proper commercial synch licenses. The tentative settlement resolves these high-stakes claims surrounding the institutional use of chart-topping hits on Instagram and TikTok.
This resolution highlights the critical legal distinction between consumer platform licenses and commercial usage rights. As rights holders systematically enforce synchronization policies against corporate accounts, brands and institutions must implement strict music clearance workflows to avoid multi-million dollar liabilities.
Curated by MusicResearch.com from Billboard Pro. Read the full article at: USC Settles Sony Lawsuit Over Beyoncé and Harry Styles Songs in Sports Team Social Media Videos
