Court Dismisses Key Claims in Meta-Epidemic Sound Copyright Suit
Judge dismisses major copyright claims in Epidemic Sound's latest lawsuit against Meta.
Why it matters: This ruling impacts how courts evaluate copyright claims tied to user-generated content on major platforms. Legal teams must watch for effects on platform liability and content moderation strategies.
- U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley dismissed Epidemic Sound's second lawsuit against Meta on July 10, 2026.
- Epidemic alleged infringement of 1,000 copyrighted works via Meta's Audio Library, Original Audio, and Reels Remix features.
- The dismissal cited Epidemic’s failure to plausibly allege substantial similarity between its tracks and those on Meta’s platforms.
- Judge allowed Epidemic to amend its complaint to provide more specific infringement allegations.
On July 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley dismissed the second copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Epidemic Sound against Meta Platforms, Inc., rejecting claims relating to Meta's Reels Remix feature and related music functionalities.
Epidemic Sound, based in Stockholm and known for a catalog exceeding 50,000 tracks, initially filed this second suit in December 2025. The complaint accused Meta of infringing on 1,000 of its copyrighted works through features like the Audio Library, Original Audio, and Reels Remix on Meta's platform.
Judge Corley's order highlighted the plaintiff's failure to demonstrate "substantial similarity" between its asserted works and the allegedly infringing Meta content, stating: "Because Epidemic has not plausibly alleged any of its 1,000 asserted works are substantially similar to any allegedly infringing work, Epidemic fails to state a claim for direct infringement by Meta or a third party."
Despite the dismissal, Judge Corley granted Epidemic leave to amend its complaint, leaving open the possibility for Epidemic to provide more detailed and specific allegations to support its claims.
This ruling follows after Epidemic's earlier lawsuit against Meta, filed in July 2022, which sought at least $142 million in damages for similar alleged copyright violations.
The case underscores the complex legal environment surrounding copyright enforcement on social media platforms, spotlighting the difficulties content owners face proving infringement, especially when large-scale user-generated content and platform features are involved.
Industry watchers and legal professionals will closely monitor how this courtroom development influences platform liability policies and the treatment of user-generated content under copyright law.
By the numbers:
- 50,000+ — tracks in Epidemic Sound's catalog
- 1,000 — number of works alleged infringed in the December 2025 lawsuit
- $142 million — damages sought in Epidemic Sound's first lawsuit against Meta in 2022
What's next: Epidemic Sound may amend its complaint to bolster infringement claims following the court's invitation to do so.