In the court filing (HERE) the plaintiff states that Believe “has been able to achieve dramatic growth and profitability in recent years by operating as a hub for the distribution of infringing copies of the world’s most popular copyrighted recordings.” UMG calls Believe’s alleged behavior “a brazen attempt to build its business by converting the value of those priceless recordings.”
The specific accusation is that Believe takes existing recordings, changes details of their identity, such as metadata (e.g. artist name and recording name), and feeds them into the streaming audio ecosystem. UMG cites this alleged behavior specifically, and describes deeper (alleged) tactics:
“Believe has distributed infringing tracks from infringers who call themselves ‘Kendrik Laamar’ (a reference to Kendrick Lamar); ‘Arriana Gramde’ (a reference to Ariana Grande); ‘Jutin Biber’ (a reference to Justin Bieber); and ‘Llady Gaga”'(a reference to Lady Gaga). Often, Believe distributes overtly infringing versions of original tracks by famous artists with notations that they are ‘sped up’ or ‘remixed.'” –UMG legal filing
It’s not just infringement of sound recordings that UMG is arguing; it is aso a accusation of making money from it:
“Believe’s illegal activities go beyond the flagrant infringement of Plaintiffs’ copyrighted sound recordings. Believe also wrongfully collects royalties it knows are properly payable by digital music services to Plaintiffs and other rightful copyright owners.” –UMG
So, what’s the bottom-line ask? UMG seeks a permanent injunction … and compensation of “at least $500,000,ooo.” (We counted the zeroes. It is 500 million dollars.)