A pre-trial conference in October will address the lawsuit between music publishers and the Phoenix Suns, while 13 other NBA teams face similar copyright infringement allegations likely to be consolidated into a single case.

The lawsuits claim unauthorized use of music by multiple publishers, including Kobalt Music Publishing, Artist Publishing Group, and Prescription Songs. The affected teams include high-profile franchises like the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers.

Court documents suggest consolidation will likely occur in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, with publishers seeking $150,000 in damages per infringement. The unauthorized music usage involves songs from artists including Cardi B, Jay-Z, Migos, OutKast, and Shaquille O'Neal.

This legal action comes as the NBA secured a $2.5 billion annual broadcast package with Comcast and NBCUniversal. While the NBA itself isn't named in the lawsuits, proper licensing would be required for video content on the NBA website.

A similar case recently emerged when Sony Music sued Marriott International for approximately 900 copyright infringements in social media posts, involving works from artists like Britney Spears, Harry Styles, and Beyoncé.

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