Wixen has refiled its copyright complaint against Meta after a judge asked the music publisher to specify, song by song, whether it owns each work or exclusively administers it, and which rights it holds. The ruling did not dismiss all of Wixen’s claims, according to the publisher’s account in a guest column, and the judge gave it two weeks to submit an amended complaint.
Wixen says its songwriter clients’ music was licensed to Meta for use on Instagram and Facebook Reels from 2018 to 2025. It alleges Meta later proposed paying a fraction of the previous amount, continued using the songs after Wixen rejected the proposal, and removed some tracks while they were still licensed. Wixen also says songwriters and managers were told that the publisher had taken the music down.
The publisher brought the lawsuit over Meta’s alleged continued use without a license or payment, as well as the removals. Wixen says the judge left its claims concerning songs removed during their license period untouched. It also says the trial date remains on the calendar and discovery is underway.
In the guest column, Wixen explains that the judge’s request concerned the ownership and licensing details attached to individual works. The publisher says it has made similar clarifications in an earlier case against Triller, which proceeded. It also argues that a Ninth Circuit rule requiring a publishing administrator to control 100% of a song to bring an infringement claim could affect songs with multiple co-writers and administrators. Wixen says it kept songs with partial control in the case to preserve the issue for appeal.
Meta’s motion to dismiss, as described by Wixen, did not claim that Meta had a license or denied using the songs. Wixen says the central dispute—whether Meta can use songwriters’ work without paying for it—remains unresolved and will be addressed as the case proceeds.
Sources: Billboard.