Post authored by FMC Legal Intern Satie Munn

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Aimee Mann is the latest artist to enter the digital royalties battle. Mann recently filed a lawsuit against the company MediaNet, demanding statutory damages for copyright infringement of around 120 songs. If she wins, Mann could be awarded up to $18 million dollars in damages.

MediaNet was founded in 1999 as a venture backed by big music and technology concerns EMI, AOL, BMG and Real Network, but was later sold to a private equity firm in 2005. Although many probably haven’t heard of the company, MediaNet’s website claims that they have a catalog consisting of more than 22 million songs, and serve more than 40 million customers, which include Ebay, Yahoo!, Zune, MOG, FYE and others. The company’s service provides access for interactive and non-interactive streaming platforms, as well as the option to buy digital copies of songs for $.99 to $1.29.

Mann’s lawsuit alleges that around 120 of her songs are being provided to various online radio sources by MediaNet, but the company does not have the rights to her songs, and has not compensated her for plays since September, 2005. Mann admits that in 2003 she entered into a license agreement with MediaNet, but she sent a termination notice in 2005. After her attempt to terminate the agreement, MediaNet allegedly continued to distribute her music, sending only a $20 advance in March 2013 for the last eight years, which Mann promptly returned.