Denver Nuggets Sued Over Unauthorized Use of Music in Promotional Videos

The Denver Nuggets are facing legal action from multiple music publishers, including Artist Publishing Group, in a federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleges that the Nuggets, along with over a dozen other NBA teams, used popular songs by artists such as Drake, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé in promotional videos without obtaining the necessary permissions from the copyright holders. The complaint specifically cites several songs that were allegedly used without consent, including "Graffiti" by YoungBoy Never Broke Again, "That's What I Like" by Flo Rida, and "One Dance" by Drake, among others. The publishers claim that the teams "reproduced, distributed, and/or publicly performed the Works as part of the Videos," thereby infringing on their exclusive copyright rights. Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Nuggets, has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation, stating that it does not discuss pending legal matters. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, an injunction to prevent further use of the music, and the recovery of court fees. The plaintiffs' attorneys are pursuing significant damages, claiming they are entitled to as much as $150,000 for each song used without authorization. This case highlights the ongoing tensions between sports franchises and music publishers regarding copyright issues in promotional content.