Please note that if you previously submitted a timely Valid Claim Form for payment from the Settlement Fund, you will automatically be enrolled in the Future Royalty Payments Program with respect to the tracks you validly claimed that embody your Claimed Musical Works. If so, you do not need to submit a Royalty Claim Form to receive mechanical royalties for those tracks. However, you may submit a Royalty Claim Form if you wish to identify additional tracks embodying your musical works in order to receive mechanical royalties for those tracks. In addition, Settlement Class Members who did not submit a Valid Claim Form for payment from the Settlement Fund are eligible to participate in the Future Royalty Payments Program.
IMPORTANT CASE UPDATES ADDED 3/25/2020 CAN BE FOUND HERE.
THE ONLINE ROYALTY CLAIM FORM CAN BE FOUND HERE.
OVERVIEW OF THE SETTLEMENT
On May 26, 2017, the parties entered into a settlement resolving a class action lawsuit alleging that Spotify made certain musical compositions available on its service without a license. The two sides disagree about whether Spotify engaged in any wrongdoing and whether it is subject to any liability. The Court has not decided which side is right. To view the Settlement in its entirety click here.
On June 29, 2017 the Court issued an Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion for Preliminary Approval of Settlement. The Court held a fairness hearing on December 1, 2017.
On May 22, 2018, the Court entered an Order and Final Judgment Approving Class Action Settlement. There have been five appeals filed after the Court's order was entered on May 22, 2018, all of which have since been resolved.
On April 15, 2019, the Court’s order finally approving the settlement became the Final Order and Judgment. Because all appeals were dismissed and no certiorari petitions were filed after the last appeal was dismissed, the Effective Date of the settlement is April 15, 2019.
Per the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the deadline to submit a settlement Claim Form elapsed on December 11, 2019. We are no longer able to accept new settlement Claim Forms for a payment from the Settlement Fund. However, even if you did not submit a valid Claim Form for payment from the Settlement Fund, you may still be eligible to participate in the Future Royalty Payments Program.
Per the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Future Royalty Payments Program Website became operational on March 25, 2020. The online Royalty Claim Form is available here. Paper Royalty Claim Forms are also available for download here.
Class Counsel encourages Future Royalty Payments Program claimants to utilize the services provided by the Settlement Claim Facilitator (“RRC”). Through the RRC Portal, claimants can locate and identify tracks embodying works that were made available on Spotify’s service. They will also be able to search the US Copyright Office database to obtain the copyright registration numbers for those works needed to submit a claim.
Notice To National Music Publishers’ Association ("NMPA") Members
If you are an NMPA member and a party to a Participating Publisher Pending and Unmatched Usage Agreement entered into in 2016, in accordance with the March 17, 2016 Pending and Unmatched Usage Agreement between Spotify and the NMPA, you are excluded from the Settlement Class (and therefore cannot participate in the Future Royalty Payments Program). Please see the Settlement Notice for the complete list of exclusions from the Settlement Class.
Your rights—and the deadlines to exercise them—are explained on this website and on the Settlement Notice.