Freeplay Music Accuses YouTube Networks of Copyright Infringement

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New York music rights holder Freeplay Music has sued two local multichannel networks, claiming the companies illegally used its copyrighted songs in YouTube videos.

Culver City’s Maker Studios is alleged to have infringed on the copyright of 45 of Freeplay’s works, while West Hollywood’s Big Frame, owned by AwesomenessTV, is accused of improperly using 14 musical works.

The complaints were filed separately in New York federal court. Freeplay is asking for up to $150,000 in statutory damages for each copyright violation.

Following a change in YouTube policy early last year, multichannel networks now have the ability to designate some channels as “managed,” allowing the networks to handle any copyright issues that come up for an individual creator.

Freeplay’s actions come a week after it was sued separately in California federal court by multichannel networks Machinima and Collective Digital Studio, which claimed it engages in a “bait and switch” copyright scheme to extort money from multichannel networks and their talent.

Freeplay is led by Scott Schreer, a successful TV song producer and composer whose credits include penning Fox’s NFL theme song.

Representatives for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Read more of the Business Journal’s coverage on YouTube’s policy changes here.

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