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Rights, Royalties, and Reputation: What Happens When Creators Push Back

Rights, Royalties, and Reputation: What Happens When Creators Push Back

This week, two major lawsuits are making headlines — one over money, the other over image. Sony Music is suing LiveOne, a music and podcast platform, for allegedly using hundreds of Sony-owned tracks without paying the required licensing fees. Meanwhile, Russell Simmons has filed a defamation suit over the #MeToo documentary On the Record, arguing that the film misrepresented key facts. Whether it’s about unpaid royalties or public portrayal, both cases show how quickly entertainment law turns into high-stakes litigation.

ChaseLawyers Newsletter
June 11, 2025

Hi there,

This week’s legal news takes us to the intersection of music rights and personal reputation. Sony Music has filed suit against streaming platform LiveOne, alleging it used over 600 songs from major artists without proper licenses — a move Sony says violates decades of industry standards. At the same time, Russell Simmons is suing the creators of the HBO Max documentary On the Record, claiming he was defamed and misrepresented in the film. Both stories are reminders: whether you're dealing with royalties or reputation, the legal stakes in entertainment are real — and rising.

Sony Sues LiveOne Over Unpaid Licensing Fees

Sony Music has filed a lawsuit against LiveOne, accusing the streaming and podcasting platform of using over 600 Sony-owned songs without paying for the necessary licenses. According to the complaint, LiveOne continued to use tracks by artists like Beyoncé, Travis Scott, and Harry Styles even after its license expired. Sony is seeking damages and a permanent injunction. The case underscores how licensing agreements remain essential in the digital music space — and what happens when platforms bypass them.

Russell Simmons Files Defamation Lawsuit Against On the Record Creators

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has filed a defamation suit against the filmmakers behind On the Record, an HBO Max documentary focused on sexual misconduct allegations in the music industry. Simmons claims the film falsely accused him of rape and mischaracterized both the claims and his response. He’s seeking $250 million in damages, alleging the documentary cost him business deals and damaged his reputation. The case will likely test the limits of documentary protections and what qualifies as defamatory in the context of public interest storytelling.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Sony Sues LiveOne Over 600+ Unlicensed Tracks

Sony says LiveOne streamed hundreds of its songs without a valid license — and now the music giant is taking legal action. Artists named include Travis Scott, Beyoncé, and Harry Styles.

Russell Simmons Sues Over On the Record Documentary

Russell Simmons is suing the creators of HBO Max’s On the Record, claiming the film defamed him with false allegations. He’s asking for $250 million in damages.

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Barry Chase, Esq. is an honors graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School, and the founding partner of ChaseLawyers®. In addition to his entertainment attorney legal practice, Mr. Chase lectures regularly on the representation of media personalities, the legal “do’s and don’ts” of music, television, and film production, and the intricacies of film rights option agreements.

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