Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Brinker International, the parent company of Chili's restaurants, over unauthorized use of protected music in social media promotional content. This legal action follows a similar recent case between Sony Music and Marriott.

Key Details of the Lawsuit:

• UMG alleges Brinker used multiple copyrighted songs without permission or payment on their Chili's social media accounts
• The allegedly infringed works include music from artists like Justin Bieber, ABBA, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, and Frank Sinatra
• Most violations occurred on TikTok and Instagram
• UMG claims Brinker lacks effective copyright compliance procedures for social media content

Previous Licensing and Current Claims:

• Brinker previously obtained some licenses from UMG but allegedly exceeded their scope
• The lawsuit seeks damages for vicarious and contributory infringement
• UMG is requesting a permanent injunction against further infringement

This case runs parallel to another ongoing copyright dispute between Brinker and the Beastie Boys over the unauthorized use of "Sabotage" in advertising campaigns.

Market Impact:

• Brinker's stock (NYSE: EAT) declined 2% to $82.96
• Despite this drop, the stock maintains a 97% increase since early 2024 and 178% growth since October 2023

Both cases highlight the increasing scrutiny of commercial use of copyrighted music on social media platforms, where personal use licenses don't extend to business applications.

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