Two major providers of song lyric services are locked in a battle over licensing access to lyrics. LyricFind is the plaintiff here, accusing MusicMatch over what LyricFind calls “an anticompetitive scheme” with major music publisher Warner Chappell Music, Inc. (WCM).
LyricFind’s complaint hinges on MusicMatch’s aggressive licensing of rights to control song lyrics owned by Warner Chappell. Locking up exclusive licensing of those lyrics forces other lyric services (like LyricFind) to negotiate with WCM for all kinds of distribution rights. Streaming audio services represent one business type which provides lyrics to listeners.
Normally,competition in this field turns on service quality — the end-user experience of seeing lyrics while streaming a song. LyricFind asserts that WCM’s aggressive licensing is legally anticompetitive, and represents monopoly power.
LyricFind is positioning its legal action as a corrective to the entire industry, not only LyricFind’s fortunes and competitive standing.
We are taking action now to protect every music streaming service’s right to partner with the lyric provider of their choice.”– LyricFind statement
The complete legal finding is HERE.
