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X Claims Music Publishers Colluded to Enforce Costly Licensing Terms

By  |  January 11, 2026

Platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against roughly 18 music publishers and their main trade group, escalating a long-running battle over music licensing in the social media industry. The lawsuit was filed on January 9 and accuses the publishers of working together to force the platform into accepting costly, industry-wide licensing terms, according to the New York Post.

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    Per the New York Post, the complaint names the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) and several major publishers, alleging they attempted to “exploit monopoly power” to pressure X into purchasing collective licenses at inflated prices. Without such agreements, the platform would lack the legal right to host or distribute thousands of musical works used by its users.

    In court filings, X claims the publishers “coordinated their actions and used joint market power” to block the company from negotiating directly with individual rights holders. The platform argues that this strategy deprived it of meaningful choice and forced it toward agreements it considers unfair. As part of the lawsuit, X is asking the court to allow individual negotiations with rights holders and is also seeking damages, though no specific amount has been disclosed, according to the New York Post.

    Among the defendants are the three largest music publishers in the world: Sony, Universal, and Warner. Their involvement underscores the scale of the dispute and its potential impact on how music is licensed across major online platforms.

    Read more: UK Presses X to Curb AI-Generated Deepfake Images as Europe Raises Alarm

    The case represents the latest chapter in an ongoing conflict between X and the music industry. In 2023, the NMPA sued the platform over alleged copyright infringement. Talks continued for years, and in November 2025 the two sides came close to a resolution, citing “substantial progress” in negotiations. However, no final agreement has been signed to date, per the New York Post.

    David Israelite, president and CEO of the NMPA, has pushed back strongly against X’s claims. He has said that X remains the only major social network without comprehensive music licenses and that the association believes the platform has violated copyrights for years. Israelite described the new lawsuit as a “move to divert attention from the legitimate right of publishers and songwriters to defend their works.”

    Similar disputes have previously emerged between music rights holders and other digital platforms, including TikTok, Twitch, and Triller. In those cases, platforms initially sought to reduce or avoid licensing payments but ultimately reached agreements following legal action.

    Industry analysts note that music licensing disputes are attracting increased regulatory and legal scrutiny, given their influence on how music is distributed and monetized online. If X succeeds in its antitrust claims, the outcome could reshape negotiations between technology platforms and rights holders, potentially leading to clearer and more transparent licensing frameworks across the digital music ecosystem.

    Source: New York Post