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How do I handle company using my music without sync license?

Started by MediatorPaulR_20 · Jun 18, 2025 · 3,601 views · 3 replies
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
ME
MediatorPaulR_20 OP

I'm dealing with a situation and need some guidance.

company using my music without sync license. I've been dealing with this for about 11 months now and the situation isn't improving.

This involves original creative work over the past 29 months. I do have documentation proving my ownership and timeline.

What's the typical outcome in situations like this?

CR
cubicle_rebel_19

NAL, but from what I've read, you should send a written demand. Standard disclaimer: talk to an actual attorney for your case.

AT
another_throwaway_26

This happened to me too. Have you tried filing a complaint with the relevant agency? In my case they investigated and it got resolved without needing a lawyer.

AC
AccountantSteve_4

No, the issue is NOT resolved by taking the content down. They infringed your copyright for 8 months. Removal stops future infringement but doesn't address past damages.

Your options for the two registered works:

  • Statutory damages: $750-$30,000 per work infringed (up to $150,000 per work if willful). Since you have registrations, you can elect statutory damages, which means you don't need to prove actual losses.
  • Actual damages + profits: What you lost (reasonable licensing fee) plus any profits they made attributable to the music use.
  • Attorney fees: Available for registered works, which makes contingency representation feasible.

For the unregistered work, you can still claim actual damages but not statutory damages or attorney fees. This is why registration matters — it's $65 and the difference between a strong case and a weak one.

Next step: have an entertainment attorney send a demand for licensing fees. Many of these cases settle for $5K-$15K per song used commercially.