Sony Music Entertainment filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against The Kroger Co. Sony alleges Kroger used its music without permission in social media advertisements. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. It accuses Kroger and 19 affiliate brands of “rampant” and “willful” infringement.
The lawsuit identifies at least 392 alleged unauthorized uses of sound recordings. These uses appeared on Kroger's social media accounts and through paid influencers. Sony claims Kroger knew licenses were required for these promotional uses. Kroger had previously licensed music from Sony. Sony seeks statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work.