Universal Music Sues Believe for $500 Million Over Alleged Piracy

UMG claims the French company distributed pirated songs using misspelled artist names on major streaming platforms.

Universal Music Group has filed a lawsuit against Believe, a French digital music firm, accusing it of distributing pirated songs on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
The lawsuit alleges that Believe used misspelled names of popular artists, such as 'Jutin Biber' and 'Arriana Gramde,' to distribute infringing copies of songs.
UMG seeks at least $500 million in damages, claiming that Believe's business model relies heavily on piracy to achieve growth and profitability.
Believe, which operates in over 50 countries, has not responded to the allegations and continues to trade publicly, with shares rising slightly despite the lawsuit.
The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, highlighting the scale and international reach of the alleged piracy.