Ultra Publishing has filed an amended copyright infringement lawsuit against Sony Music, providing more detailed evidence of alleged widespread copyright violations. The case is separate from their ongoing trademark dispute and stems from a comprehensive audit revealing multiple instances of unauthorized use of Ultra Publishing's compositions.

Key allegations in the amended complaint include:

• Unauthorized use of over 100 musical compositions across streaming, downloads, physical formats, and sync licensing
• Improper direct negotiations with Ultra Publishing's songwriters, resulting in invalid licensing agreements
• Specific instances of infringement on platforms like Spotify, with detailed documentation of dates and registration numbers

The amended filing refutes Sony Music's characterization of the lawsuit as revenge for their trademark dispute, emphasizing this is purely a copyright matter. Ultra Publishing indicates this is the first of several planned legal actions against Sony Music as they uncover additional alleged infringements.

Background:

• Sony Music acquired Ultra Records in two stages (50% stake, then full ownership in 2022)
• Patrick Moxey operated Ultra Publishing under a licensing arrangement during this period
• A December jury verdict favored Sony in the trademark dispute, giving Ultra Publishing six months to change its name
• Sony previously attempted to dismiss the case, claiming a 2019 settlement and criticizing the complaint's lack of specifics

The amended complaint is six pages longer than the original and includes substantially more detail about the alleged infringements, addressing Sony's earlier criticisms about vagueness. Ultra Publishing maintains its position that this legal action is independent of the ongoing trademark dispute and based solely on copyright violations.

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