Spotify has been hit with a lawsuit from Wixan Music Publishing over the copyright of material available on the streaming network.
Wixen Music Publishing is seeking damages of at least $1.6 billion (£1.18bn), claiming Spotify failed to seek licences for the music available from the site from artists represented by the to reproduce and distribute the songs.
The company represents artists such as Tom Petty, The Black Keys and Janis Joplin.
Wixen brought the case to Spotify at the end of last year, but Wixen rejected the offer of a $43mil (£31.6mil) settlement, arguing it meant less than $4 (£2.9) per song as they claimed it failed to address the claims of songwriters and publishers.
The publishing company said: ‘As a result Spotify has built a billion dollar business on the backs of songwriters and publishers whose music Spotify is using, in many cases without obtaining and paying for the necessary licenses.’
Spotify have so far declined to comment.
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