Sony Music Ends Lawsuit Against Anthem Films In District Court Over Whitney Houston Movie

Sony Music Ends Lawsuit Against Anthem Films In District Court Over Whitney Houston Movie

It had claimed $3.6 million in damages and an order to stop the alleged infringement

Sony Music Entertainment has informed the US District Court for the Central District of California about dropping its lawsuit accusing investors and makers of the 2022 movie ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ of using 24 of Houston's hits in the film without permission.

The company stated dismissing the case with prejudice (meaning it cannot be refiled).

Recently, the parties apprised the court of settling the matter but needed time to finalize it.

Houston, who died in 2012, signed to Arista Records in 1983. It is now owned by Sony Music.

Earlier, Sony had stated that it licensed Houston's music to producer Anthem Films for a biopic and soundtrack in 2022. The movie grossed nearly $60 million worldwide.

However, Sony accused Anthem of failing to pay agreed-upon licensing fees for hits featured in the movie including ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody,’ ‘How Will I Know’ and ‘I Will Always Love You’.

Anthem had agreed to pay Sony after receiving the money owed by the state of Massachusetts, but later, it declined to sign a repayment agreement, citing contracts with other defendants.

The lawsuit claimed $3.6 million in damages and a court order to stop the alleged infringement.