Mighty Rivers Productions

03/06/2026

Engineered for comfort, designed for performance – the Kryger guitar strap elevates every note.

03/06/2026

28/05/2026

Using trending music on TikTok or Instagram for your business campaign does not automatically mean you have the legal right to do so.

Warner Music Group and Crumbl Cookies have reportedly reached an undisclosed settlement in a copyright infringement lawsuit involving the alleged unauthorised use of 159 songs in social media marketing content. The claimed damages are in the area of 23 million USD.🍪

The case is a reminder of one of the biggest misconceptions in modern digital marketing, being that
if a song is trending on social media, it is free to be used.

Many businesses also wrongly assume that because music is available inside a platform’s library, it is automatically cleared for commercial brand use. In reality, platform licences often distinguish between personal creator use and commercial advertising or branded promotional use. Once music becomes part of a company’s marketing strategy, the legal position changes dramatically.

According to the allegations, Crumbl’s videos relied heavily on popular music as a central feature of the content itself. Warner argued the music helped build the brand, drive engagement, and generate sales without proper licensing or permission.

This is not an isolated issue anymore either. Major labels are aggressively pursuing brands, retailers, hotels, universities, and online businesses over social media music usage. The ‘Bang Energy’ decisions in the USA opened the door for many of these claims and established precedent that courts are willing to treat social media infringement seriously.

At STEYN IP®, we have also been involved in a similar undisclosed settlement between a major record label and a large insurer relating to music used in online marketing content. These disputes are very real, even for sophisticated corporate entities and local brands.

In modern marketing, music is not just “background sound.” It is intellectual property with significant commercial value… And the more successful the campaign becomes, the bigger the legal target may become too.

If you need assistance in IP, or simply need a quick “how to” guide to avoiding online infringement, give us call. 😎

28/05/2026

The labels say they are asserting “only a small fraction” of those recordings – 61,026 works – in the proposed second amended complaint.

26/05/2026

Owning copyright means owning your ideas—not just the physical copy, but the value behind your work.

17/05/2026

.Zander Van Der Westhuizen het tydens die Sondagaand Gospelprogram met Simoné Roets gesels oor Moreleta Musiek se enkelsnit - Sing oor U - wat tans nommer EEN op die Gospel Top 10 is.

Ons sien ook uit na Nuwe Lof wat eersdaags nuwe musiek bekendstel op 31 Mei by Moreleta waarby Simoné ook betrokke is.

Vir meer inligting besoek 👉 www.nuwelof.co.za