Sony Music and Ultra Records File Lawsuit Over Unauthorized Version of House Hit 'Dancin'
Sony Music Entertainment and Ultra Records have filed a lawsuit against Moody Recordings over an alleged copyright infringement of the house track "Dancin" by Aaron Smith.
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Key details of the lawsuit:
- In June 2014, Moody Recordings signed an exclusive 10-year licensing agreement with Sony Music for "Dancin"
- The agreement covered all versions except the "Laidback Luke Remix" and applied globally (excluding Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)
- Sony transferred exclusive rights to Ultra Records for Canada and United States distribution
- In 2019, Moody allegedly released an unauthorized version that gained over 200 million Spotify streams
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for:
- Vicarious and contributory copyright infringement
- Breach of contract (estimated damages over $1 million)
- Lost revenue from Spotify streams
- Irreparable harm to the original track's popularity
Additional claims:
- Sony Music Spain seeks to extend the 2014 agreement by four years
- The lawsuit targets Moody Recordings' owners Jonas Tempel and William Renkosik (DJ Bad Boy Bill)
- The complaint alleges Moody is an "alter ego" for Tempel and Renkosik without proper corporate structure
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The defendants have not publicly responded to the lawsuit at the time of reporting. The case number is 1:23-cv-00885.