Universal Music Accuses Rival of Rampant Piracy Via Knockoff Tracks by ‘Kendrik Laamar’ and ‘Llady Gaga’

variety.com:

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Universal Music Group sued the start-up distributor Believe for $500 million on Monday, alleging the rival firm has engaged in “rampant piracy” of its most famous artists.

In a complaint filed in federal court in New York, UMG alleged that Believe has distributed tracks by fake artists like “Kendrik Laamar,” “Rihamna,” and “Llady Gaga,” which are simply sped-up versions of the real artists’ songs.

UMG alleges that Believe’s business model is predicated on pirating copyrighted works, including songs by Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Elton John, the Rolling Stones and many others. “Believe’s client list is overrun with fraudulent ‘artists’ and pirate record labels who rely on Believe and its distribution network to seed infringing copies of popular sound recordings throughout the digital music ecosystem,” the lawsuit states. “While Believe is fully aware that its business model is fueled by rampant piracy, it has eschewed basic measures to prevent copyright violations and turned a blind eye to the fact that its music catalog was rife with copyright infringing sound recordings.” Believe is based in Paris, and was founded in 2005 by Denis Ladegaillerie, a former executive at Vivendi.

The company has grown steadily in recent years, with revenues of €880.3 million in fiscal 2023. The company has amassed a large music catalog, and has deals with platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and Amazon.