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Music Avatars in Video Video games – Music Enterprise Analysis

by Admin | Nov 16, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News

Video video games have confirmed to be a great setting for musical avatars. Sport builders comparable to Epic Video games and Roblox recognised the potential for human superstars to carry out live shows of their video games. Cooperation between the gaming and music industries might due to this fact be mutually useful. Artists can increase their fan base by performing in entrance of the gaming neighborhood, boosting gross sales of merchandise and branded merchandise. In the meantime, sport builders can improve their person numbers and faucet into new market segments by internet hosting live shows of their video games.

Nonetheless, there are additionally factors of friction between the music and video games industries, as evidenced by the lawsuit filed by Common Publishing and different indie music publishers towards Roblox, which accused the sport developer of copyright infringement. This instance reveals that cooperation can solely succeed if sport builders dance to the tune of the foremost rights holders. In any other case, as the instance of Riot Video games reveals, sport producers should construct their very own music groups and label constructions to create and market their very own music avatars, as highlighted within the sixth and remaining a part of the collection on “Digital Music Worlds”.

Digital Music Worlds – Half 6: Music Avatars in Video Video games

Epic Video games: Celebrity-Avatare in “Fortnite”

The avatars of pop stars, which have already made profitable appearances in video video games, might be a foretaste of this. A milestone in digital live shows in video games happened on 2 February 2019. At 2 p.m. US Jap Time, 10.7 million avid gamers of the ego-shooter sport ‘Fortnite Battle Royale’ eagerly awaited the live performance by US DJ Marshmello, whose avatar carried out for ten minutes within the digital Nice Park.[1] The digital Marshmello clone carried out eight songs from his catalogue and concurrently launched the album “Marshmello Fortnite Prolonged Set” on Apple Music.[2] This efficiency was a win-win state of affairs for each the artist and Fortnite developer Epic Video games. Christopher Comstock, the DJ’s actual identify, who wears a cylindrical helmet with a smiley face paying homage to a marshmallow, was in a position to generate further income from the sale of merchandise along with selling himself. This success was additionally measurable, as a Billboard article reveals. In accordance with the article, Marshmello gained 147,000 new followers on Twitter (now X) shortly after the live performance, elevated the variety of subscribers to his YouTube channel by 1,800 per cent, and the views of his YouTube movies additionally skyrocketed by 500 per cent.[3] For Epic Video games, the ten.7 million digital live performance attendees set a brand new person report and additional elevated its recognition.

The Marshmello live performance thus grew to become the blueprint for additional digital performances by pop stars in video games. A yr later, Epic Video games collaborated with US rapper Travis Scott. Nonetheless, his 23 April 2020 efficiency in “Fortnite Battle Royale” differed considerably from the Marshmello live performance. Whereas Marshmello’s avatar stood on a conventional live performance stage and was cheered on by the digital viewers, avid gamers on the Travis Scott live performance had been drawn into his music video, “The Scotts”. The US rapper’s avatar was animated in 3D and appeared as a hologram on a digital map. It then dove into the depths of the ocean and eventually floated via area — most likely explaining the title of the live performance, “Astronomical”.[4] Travis Scott’s first look within the Fortnite sport was extra profitable than the Marshmello live performance, with 12.3 million reside viewers. After 4 extra reveals within the following days, Epic reported that the live performance had been considered 45.8 million occasions by 27.7 million distinctive customers.[5]

Epic Video games wished to capitalise on the hype and continued the looks of pop star avatars in “Fortnite Battle Royale” with Ariana Grande’s “The Rift” tour from 6 to eight August 2021. Throughout this era, the digital present was carried out 5 occasions and followers had been in a position to buy numerous digital skins of the artist and beauty gadgets on-line.[6] This was adopted by additional appearances of avatars in Fortnite video games by US rapper Eminem in December 2023,[7] heavy metallic band Metallica in June 2024[8] and a joint live performance on the finish of November 2024 by Eminem together with his colleague rappers Snoop Dogg, Ice Spice and Juice Wrld, who died in 2019 and was just about “resurrected” within the sport.[9]

Roblox: Lil Nas X

Epic Video games’ success was quickly copied by different sport builders. Just a few months after Travis Scott’s digital look in Fortnite, Lil Nas X carried out in a Roblox sport over two days in mid-November, with a complete of 4 reveals in entrance of an viewers of thousands and thousands and producing round 33 million views. Roblox additionally earned cash from followers customising their avatars with equipment comparable to cowboy hats forward of the live performance.[10] General, Roblox put in additional effort than Epic Video games, scanning the artist’s face and physique and utilizing movement seize know-how to seize his dance strikes.[11] This resulted in a really life like avatar that carried out 4 songs in numerous digital environments.[12]

For Sony Music Leisure, the efficiency by its artist was a full success, and Warner, which had acquired a minority stake in Roblox,[13] was additionally happy with the occasion. Common Music Group was the one music main to look dissatisfied, submitting a lawsuit towards Roblox for copyright infringement in June 2021. This was later joined by quite a few indie music publishers. The plaintiffs argued that Roblox was incomes tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} from customers importing unlicensed music to its gaming platforms.[14] The lawsuit searching for US$200 million in damages was filed by the Nationwide Music Publishers Affiliation (NMPA) and dismissed by Roblox as a significant misunderstanding.[15] The “misunderstanding” was apparently resolved in September 2021 when Roblox agreed to a settlement with the music publishers that had filed the lawsuit. BMG Rights Administration had already signed a licensing take care of the sport developer, and Sony had prolonged its strategic partnership.[16] Nonetheless, the lawsuit reveals that cooperation between the video games trade and the music trade have to be carried out in keeping with the principles of the latter. Labels and music publishers admire the PR perform that the appearances of their stars’ avatars in video games carry with them, however any infringement of copyright is straight away punished.

Riot Video games: Pentakill, KD/A, True Injury

To keep away from these points, Los Angeles-based sport developer Riot Video games selected a unique method. The corporate had nice success with the sport League of Legends, resulting in its acquisition by the Chinese language leisure group Tencent in 2011.[17] In 2014, Riot Video games created the digital heavy metallic band Pentakill, whose skins might be bought by avid gamers within the sport. Behind the band members – Karthus, Kayle, Mordekaiser, Olaf, Sona and Yorick – had been actual musicians comparable to drummer Tommy Lee from the heavy metallic band Mötley Crüe.[18] Pentakill’s first single, “Lightbringer”, was an enormous success because of the online game, and the official audio had reached 39 million views as of September 2025. The three albums by Pentakill, whose music was produced by an in-house music staff, additionally reached a large viewers.[19]

Nonetheless, the success of Pentakill was then far overshadowed by the digital Ok-pop woman group Ok/DA, created in 2018. Ok/DA was launched as a part of the opening ceremony of the “League of Legends World Championship” with the tune “Pop/Stars”, throughout which avid gamers might additionally buy skins for the 4 band members – Ahri, Akali, Evelynn and Kai’sa.[20] Behind these 4 fictional characters, nonetheless, had been the human singers Madison Beer, Jairan Burns, Miyeon and Soeyeon, the latter from the Ok-pop woman group (G)-Idle.[21] On the premiere on 3 November 2018, the 4 singers carried out along with their avatars within the reside present because of movement seize know-how.[22] The debut single went viral on each YouTube and music streaming platforms. On the day the music video was launched on YouTube, “Pop/Stars” was considered 5 million occasions, making it the most-watched debut video by a Ok-pop act.[23] Billboard additionally reported that the tune rapidly climbed to primary on the World Digital Tune Gross sales Chart.[24] As of September 2025, the music video has 643 million views on YouTube[25] and has been streamed practically 401 million occasions on Spotify since November 2018.[26] Nonetheless, a take a look at Spotify streams additionally reveals that the songs produced later from the album “All Out”, launched in 2020, have decrease streaming figures than “Pop/Stars”.[27] No new songs by KD/A have been launched since 2020.

This may be resulting from the truth that Riot Video games has turned its consideration to a brand new digital band venture. In November 2019, the hip-hop group True Injury made its first look within the re-creation of “League of Legends World Championship” with the tune “Giants”. Behind the band members Akali, Ekko, Qiayana, Senna and Yasuo, paying homage to Gorillaz, had been human singers. Lead singer Akali was voiced by Soyeon, who had already carried out as a rapper with KD/A. She was supported by Becky G, Duckwrth, Thutmose and Keke Palmer.[28] Nonetheless, True Injury was unable to duplicate the success of KD/A. Though the hip-hop group has recorded 225 million views on YouTube to this point (as of September 2025),[29] Spotify has reported ‘solely’ round 165 million streams since November 2019.[30]

In contrast to different sport builders, Riot Video games can also be trying to place itself as a fully-fledged music label. In an interview with Billboard Journal on the event of KD/A‘s first efficiency in early November 2018, the sport developer’s artistic director, Viranda Tantula, mentioned: “We’ve invested in constructing our inner music staff with each an artist centered artistic studio stuffed with composers, songwriters and producers, in addition to individuals who can carry out all of the companies that you’d see at a regular music label, comparable to distribution, A&R and promo.”[31]

Behind the digital music teams are Patrick Morales and his music staff, who’re joined by creative director Janelle Jimenez within the manufacturing of the music movies.[32] They type the core of the Riot Music Group, which has its personal music video channel on YouTube, though with round 700,000 subscribers and 82 movies, its efficiency is slightly modest.[33] The figures present that Riot Video games’ music initiatives have up to now didn’t make an influence past the gaming neighborhood. In abstract, video games generally is a extremely efficient advertising and marketing device for musicians, as demonstrated by the appearances of stars comparable to Travis Scott in Epic Video games’ “Fortnite” and Lil Nas X on Roblox. In addition to promoting the artists’ avatar skins immediately within the sport, video video games primarily function branding platforms. Nonetheless, it’s far more troublesome to determine new digital, and in the end AI-generated, acts in video games, as demonstrated by Riot Video games. Though they loved some success with Ok/DA, they had been unable to construct on it. Their objective of building themselves as a sustainable music label additionally appears to have solely been partially profitable. However, the gaming and music industries complement one another, and new types of collaboration might emerge with the additional growth o

Endnotes

[1] Rolling Stone, “Why Marshmello’s Fortnite Present Will Show ‘Revolutionary’ for the Music Trade” by Tim Ingham, February 22, 2019, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[2] Wikipedia, “Marshmello Fortnite Prolonged Set”, model of July 13, 2025, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[3] Billboard, “Marshmello’s Fornite Live performance: Breaking Down The Social Influence”, February 6, 2019, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[4] YouTube, “Travis Scott and Fortnite Current: Astronomical (Full Occasion Video)”, April 26, 2020, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[5] Forbes, “A Staggering Quantity Of Folks Noticed Fortnite’s Travis Scott ‘Astronomical’ Occasion”, April 28, 2020, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[6] The Verge, “Ariana Grande’s Fortnite tour was a second years within the making”, August 9, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[7] The Verge, “Fortnite’s Eminem live performance teased the way forward for the sport”, December 2, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[8] The Verge, “Fortnite’s Metallica live performance confirmed how sprawling the sport has turn into”, June 29, 2024, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[9] The Verge, “The way to watch Fortnite’s huge Juice WRLD, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Ice Spice live performance”, November 30, 2024, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[10] BBC Information, “Lil Nas X performs his first digital live performance on Roblox”, November 16, 2020, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[11] Ibid.

[12] YouTube, “The Lil Nas X Full Roblox Live performance”, December 14, 2020, accessed: 2025-09-11.

[13] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Warner Music Group joins $520m funding spherical in online game platform Roblox”, January 7, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-11.

[14] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Roblox sued for $200m+ by music publishers, who allege copyright infringement”, June 9, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[15] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Roblox says $200m+ copyright lawsuit is predicated on a ‘basic misunderstanding’. Music publishers disagree”, June 10, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[16] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Roblox strikes take care of music publishers”, September 27, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[17] Reuters, “Tencent acquires majority stake in Riot Video games”, February 5, 2011, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[18] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Meet the digital artists backed by among the world’s largest leisure firms”, Could 22, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[19] Wikipedia, “Pentakill”, model of December 18, 2024, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[20] Dot Esports, “Riot places on an augmented actuality Ok-Pop live performance for Worlds in tandem with a brand-new music video”, November 3, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[21] Digiverse, “A brief historical past of digital artists”, October 12, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[22] Billboard, “‘League of Legends’ Unveils Digital Ok-Pop Woman Group Ok/DA, Appears to Way forward for Music in Esports”, November 5, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[23] Fox Sports activities, “League of Legends Ok-POP group Ok/DA’s debut music video hits record-breaking 13 million views on YouTube”, November 6, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[24] Billboard, “‘League of Legends’ Woman Group Earns Madison Beer, (G)I-DLE & Jaira Burns No. 1 on World Digital Tune Gross sales Chart”, November 13, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[25] YouTube, “Ok/DA – POP/STARS (ft. Madison Beer, (G)I-DLE, Jaira Burns) | Music Video – League of Legends”, November 3, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[26] Spotify, “KD/A”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-16.

[27] Ibid.

[28] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Meet the digital artists backed by among the world’s largest leisure firms”, Could 22, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[29] YouTube, “True Injury – Giants (mit Becky G, Keke Palmer, SOYEON von (G)I-DLE, DUCKWRTH, Thutmose)”, November 10, 2019, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[30] Spotify, “True Injury”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-16.

[31] Billboard, “‘League of Legends’ Unveils Digital Ok-Pop Woman Group Ok/DA, Appears to Way forward for Music in Esports”, November 5, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[32] INVEN World, “Interview With Patrick Morales, Janelle Jimenez, and Toa Dunn; the Creators of the World Sensation, Ok/DA-POP/STARS”, November 27, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[33] YouTube, “Riot Video games Music”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-16.

Erika Christensen and Penelope Ann Miller on After All: Podcast

by Admin | Nov 9, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News

Pay attention by way of: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | Extra Platforms

Erika Christensen and Penelope Ann Miller be a part of Kyle Meredith to speak about their new movie After All, a quiet indie that digs deep into household trauma and the methods love survives. Out on digital and VOD on November seventh (pre-order on Apple TV+), the story follows three generations of girls pressured again collectively beneath one roof in small-town Texas, the place previous wounds and long-buried secrets and techniques bubble up. Christensen not solely stars but in addition government produces the movie, saying she was drawn to the fabric for its grounded fact and refusal to hurry. “Motion pictures like this — small, human tales — can nonetheless discover a place,” she tells Meredith. Pay attention above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Christensen, who performs Ellen, says she felt an on the spot connection to the flawed, messy character. “She’s been dwelling like she’s nonetheless 21, and life lastly forces her to develop up,” she explains. “She is aware of she’s a large number, however she’s like, ‘That is who I’m, take it or go away it.’ That’s fascinating to me.”

Miller, who portrays Ellen’s mom affected by dementia, says the movie’s emotional depth got here from its roots in actuality: “It’s loosely primarily based on the author’s family, and that authenticity is in each scene. I didn’t wish to play a caricature; I needed her to really feel like somebody you understand.” She laughs about capturing in “a gorgeous however brutally scorching” Austin home with no central air, including, “The discomfort type of labored — it matched the stress of the story.”

Each actresses reward the movie’s endurance and quiet energy, particularly in an age of fixed noise. “There’s a lot drama in silence,” Miller says. “Motion pictures used to allow you to breathe, and this one does that. You’re proper there in it.” Christensen agrees, including that tales about folks “doing their greatest and going through what they by no means anticipated” will at all times have a spot in cinema.

Hearken to Erika Christensen and Penelope Ann Miller discuss After All, and extra within the new episode above or by watching the video beneath.

Sustain on all the newest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favourite podcast platform; plus, try all of the sequence on the Consequence Podcast Community.

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IPRMENTLAW WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS (OCTOBER 20-26, 2025)

by Admin | Nov 2, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News

Bombay Excessive Court docket imposes ₹50 Lakh prices for suppression of information in trademark infringement go well with

The Bombay Excessive Court docket has imposed prices of ₹50 lakh on a plaintiff for concealing materials information and acquiring an ex parte injunction by misrepresentation in a trademark infringement case.

Justice Arif Physician, presiding over the matter, noticed that the plaintiff, proprietor of M/s Household Footwear, had secured an injunction order by intentionally suppressing essential info. The plaintiff didn’t disclose that his trademark registration was territorially restricted to Maharashtra and that the defendants have been prior and bona fide customers of the impugned mark. The Court docket held that such omissions amounted to a fraud on the court docket and couldn’t be handled as inadvertent.

The suppression of information led to extreme prejudice, because the defendants’ enterprise operations have been disrupted following the seizure of their items pursuant to the injunction. The Court docket directed the plaintiff to pay ₹25 lakh every to the 2 defendants inside 4 weeks.

MeitY proposes amendments to IT Guidelines to fight deepfake and AI-Generated content material abuse

The Ministry of Electronics and Data Expertise (MeitY) has proposed amendments to the Data Expertise (Middleman Pointers and Digital Media Ethics Code) Guidelines, 2021, geared toward curbing the misuse of synthetic intelligence and deepfake applied sciences on social media platforms. The draft seeks to introduce particular obligations for intermediaries to make sure accountability and transparency in managing AI-generated content material. Following are the important thing proposed modifications:

Definition of Artificial Content material:
The draft introduces the time period “synthetically generated info”—any content material created or modified utilizing laptop sources that seems genuine however is artificially generated.
Necessary Labelling of AI-Generated Content material:
Intermediaries should be sure that all deepfake or AI-generated materials is clearly labelled or tagged as artificial, utilizing seen textual content, metadata, or embedded identifiers.
Obligations for Platforms Enabling Creation of Artificial Media:
Apps or platforms that enable customers to create artificial content material should guarantee such content material carries everlasting and distinguished labelling, together with audible or seen cues the place relevant.
Consumer Declarations and Automated Detection:
Important social media intermediaries (SSMIs) shall be required to gather person declarations confirming whether or not uploaded materials is synthetically generated, and to deploy automated instruments to confirm and detect such content material.
Protected Harbour and Compliance:
Platforms that act promptly to take away or limit entry to artificial content material upon receiving complaints will retain safe-harbour safety beneath the IT Act. Failure to conform or knowingly selling deepfake content material could lead to lack of such safety.

MeitY has invited public suggestions till November 6, 2025, earlier than finalising the amendments.

Learn the draft guidelines right here.

Hyderabad Court docket upholds Chiranjeevi’s persona rights, bars misuse of his identify and picture

The Hyderabad Metropolis Civil Court docket has granted an ad-interim injunction defending actor Chiranjeevi’s persona rights, restraining over 30 on-line entities from utilizing his identify, picture, voice, or likeness with out consent. Choose S. Sasidhar Reddy noticed that Chiranjeevi’s persona together with titles like “Megastar” and “Boss” varieties an intrinsic a part of his identification and holds “immense public recognition and business worth.” The court docket held that any unauthorised use may mislead the general public and trigger irreparable hurt to his repute. The matter shall be heard subsequent on October 27, 2025.

Delhi HC protects Hrithik Roshan’s persona rights, orders elimination of infringing content material

The Delhi Excessive Court docket has granted interim reduction to actor Hrithik Roshan, safeguarding his persona rights and directing the elimination of unauthorized content material infringing upon his identify, picture, voice, and likeness. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora emphasised that such attributes are protectable components of his identification and entitled to safety towards misuse, together with AI-generated or distorted content material that demeans his repute. The court docket issued instructions to on-line platforms to determine and take away infringing materials inside three weeks.

Learn order right here.

Ilaiyaraaja approaches Madras Excessive Court docket over unauthorized use of songs in Dude

Legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja has approached the Madras Excessive Court docket alleging unauthorized use and distortion of his tune “Karutha Machan” from the 1991 movie Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu within the upcoming film Dude, directed by Pradeep Ranganathan. The composer claims that his tracks are being exploited with out consent, with modifications comparable to added beats, and that music firms like Sony Music are “dishonest” him by persevering with to make use of his work with out authorization. Throughout a listening to on October 22, 2025, Ilaiyaraaja’s counsel, contended that the music firm had failed to offer day-to-day income accounts from streaming platforms and had submitted paperwork in a sealed cowl, a apply criticized by the Supreme Court docket. Justice N. Senthilkumar determined to defer additional proceedings till the Supreme Court docket addresses the matter.

Madras Excessive Court docket to listen to petitions towards Tamil movie Desiya Thalaivar, biopic on M.G. Ramachandran

The Madurai Bench of the Madras Excessive Court docket has acquired petitions towards Desiya Thalaivar, a biopic on late politician M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), elevating objections over its content material and portrayal. The petitioners urged the court docket to direct authorities to cancel the movie’s CBFC certification. The court docket has sought a response from the Centre on the matter. The listening to has been scheduled for October 28.

TRAI’s proposed broadcast audit reforms spark business divide

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed modifications to broadcast audit guidelines, resulting in a divide between broadcasters and distribution platform operators (DPOs). Broadcasters argue that the draft weakens their audit rights and anti-piracy measures, whereas DPOs oppose the supply permitting broadcasters to ship representatives to on-site audits, citing issues over confidentiality and operational disruptions. TRAI goals to resolve disputes however faces criticism for probably exceeding its authority and complicating regulatory processes. Stakeholder suggestions is being solicited to deal with these issues.

Centre broadcasts increased advert charges and reforms to assist print, television, and radio

The Indian authorities plans a 27% improve in commercial charges for print media and regulatory reforms to assist TV and radio. Data Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the necessity to strengthen standard media amid digital disruption. On TRP reform, he said: “There’s a main distortion in TV information channels as a result of present ranking system. We’re evaluating enhancements to offer a stage taking part in subject. Tv Ranking Level (TRP) pointers are being formulated. The primary spherical of session is full, suggestions has been acquired, and a second session paper will quickly be revealed.”

Delhi Excessive Court docket orders takedown of AI-Generated video making false claims about Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

The Delhi Excessive Court docket has directed Meta Platforms to take away an AI-generated video on Instagram falsely claiming that Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, workers poisoned company in 2018. The video, posted by the account “Travelagio,” had over 20,000 views. Indian Lodges Firm Restricted (IHCL), proprietor of Taj Lodges, sought the injunction, stating the content material was fabricated, deceptive, and damaging to the resort’s repute. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora noticed that the video misrepresented the resort and will trigger irreparable hurt to its repute. The court docket additionally ordered Meta to reveal the person’s identification and stop re-uploading of comparable content material.

MIB to introduce single-window digital portal to streamline stay occasion approvals

The Data and Broadcasting Ministry is launching a single-window digital portal to simplify permissions for stay reveals and cultural festivals, aiming for approvals inside 15 days. Developed by the Stay Occasions Improvement Cell, the platform will consolidate varied approvals, permitting organizers to entry venue particulars, capability limits, pre-cleared licenses, and ultimate approvals.

Madras Excessive Court docket acknowledges cryptocurrency as property beneath Indian Regulation

In a major ruling on October 25, 2025, the Madras Excessive Court docket acknowledged cryptocurrency as property beneath Indian legislation, affirming its standing as an asset able to possession and belief. Justice Anand Venkatesh emphasised that whereas cryptocurrencies are intangible and never authorized tender, they possess important traits of property—they’re definable, identifiable, transferable, and could be solely managed by personal keys. The Court docket cited precedents from New Zealand and the UK, which additionally acknowledged cryptocurrencies as property that may be held in belief. This determination arose from a case the place an investor’s XRP holdings on the WazirX platform have been frozen following a cyberattack.

Delhi Excessive Court docket restrains use of ‘WOW BURGER’, upholds WOW Momo’s trademark rights

The Delhi Excessive Court docket has restrained using the mark “WOW Burger”, affirming the trademark rights of Wow Momo within the meals sector.

The court docket famous that Wow Momo’s use of the “WOW” prefix over time has acquired distinctiveness and goodwill, making it intently related to the model’s identification in shoppers’ minds. Unauthorized use of an identical mark within the meals business may mislead clients into considering there’s an affiliation with Wow Momo, leading to trademark dilution.

Delhi Excessive Court docket bars unauthorized use of Tata’s “Vivanta” Trademark

The Delhi Excessive Court docket has issued an ad-interim injunction towards an entity utilizing the identify “Vivanta Stays”, ruling that it infringes upon the “Vivanta” trademark owned by The Indian Lodges Firm Restricted (IHCL), part of the Tata Group. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora noticed that the defendant’s adoption of the mark was deliberate and mischievous, prone to mislead shoppers into believing an affiliation with IHCL’s established hospitality providers.

ABBA Voyage – Music Enterprise Analysis

by Admin | Oct 26, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News

Whereas Hatsune Miku‘s voice was nonetheless generated by a vocal synthesiser, the voices of right now’s music avatars is produced by synthetic intelligence. One significantly profitable mission is “ABBA Voyage”. Utilizing refined know-how, avatars of the 4 ABBA members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad had been delivered to life on stage in London, creating a brand new viewers attraction that shall be examined in additional element partially 3 of the collection on “Digital Music Worlds”.

Digital Music Worlds – Half 3: ABBA Voyage

The event and implementation of ABBA Voyage

An early instance of AI generated music avatars is arguably Sweden’s most profitable music export of all time: ABBA. After Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad made the far-reaching resolution in December 1982 to cease performing collectively, there have been repeated rumours of a reunion. Most just lately, these rumours had been fuelled by the large success of the primary “Mamma Mia!” film in 2008,[1] which was primarily based on the musical of the identical title that premiered in London’s West Finish in 1999.[2] ABBA mastermind Björn Ulvaeus even felt compelled to emphasize in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph: “We’ll by no means seem on stage once more. There may be merely no motivation to re-group. Cash isn’t an element and we want folks to recollect us as we had been – younger, exuberant, filled with power and ambition.”[3] Not even a suggestion of US$1 billion from an American-British monetary consortium for a joint tour, made to the pop group in 2000, may persuade the celebs to face on the live performance stage collectively once more.[4]

Though this perspective wouldn’t change later, there was no point out of a digital reunion on the time. Nevertheless, in an interview with Billboard journal on the finish of October 2016, Simon Fuller, the creator of the TV expertise present “American Idol” and CEO of 19 Leisure, introduced his plan to resurrect ABBA in digital actuality utilizing the most recent applied sciences and synthetic intelligence. He satisfied the 4 ABBA stars to take part and invited them to play an lively position: “We’re exploring a brand new technological world, with digital actuality and synthetic intelligence on the forefront, that can enable us to create new types of leisure and content material we couldn’t have beforehand imagined.”[5]

Step one on this course was to report a brand new album. Subsequently, ABBA reunited in a Stockholm sound studio in spring 2018, the place they recorded two new songs: ‘I Nonetheless Have Religion in You’ and ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’. Nevertheless, in an interview with the BBC, Björn Ulvaeus was quite obscure in regards to the digital ABBA mission. The one data he revealed was that work was underway on creating avatars, or ‘ABBA-tars’, that will tour instead of the human ABBA members.[6]

The mission gained momentum when British music video director Baillie Walsh joined the event workforce. In an in-depth interview for “Esquire”, he recounted how he was invited by the 2 govt producers, Svana Gisla and Ludvig Andersson, Benny Andersson’s son, to proceed growing the digital ABBA mission from 2019 onwards.[7] Initially, the concept was to convey ABBA onto the stage as holograms. Nevertheless, because the know-how was thought-about outdated and unsatisfactory, Walsh sat down with representatives from Industrial Gentle & Magic (ILM), the corporate based by Star Wars creator George Lucas, to discover the technical prospects of AI-generated ABBA avatars performing life-size on stage. The answer was a 10-metre-high LED wall, the place the inside lighting and stage lighting had been coordinated with the assistance of quite a few cameras to create the phantasm of a three-dimensional presence of the projected avatars.[8] Nevertheless, to attain this, the avatars first needed to be created utilizing movement seize know-how much like that used for Hatsune Miku. Within the winter of 2020, the 4 ABBA stars subsequently met at a specialist studio in Stockholm, the place they slipped into fits geared up with small spherical markers at particular factors on the physique. These fits had been used to seize the celebs’ actions from totally different angles utilizing 160 cameras.[9] It took 5 lengthy and intense weeks to report the dance sequences for every tune with ABBA’s 4 members and quite a few youthful physique doubles underneath the course of star choreographer Wayne McGregor utilizing movement seize.[10] The faces of Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid had been additionally captured intimately and rejuvenated utilizing AI. This ensured that the 4 ABBA members regarded convincingly actual on stage.[11]

The consequence was spectacular when, on 26 Could 2022, the premiere passed off on the ABBA Enviornment, which had been erected near Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London for 3,000 spectators, with distinguished visitors together with the Swedish royal couple. However it wasn’t simply the viewers who raved in regards to the convincingly practical avatar present,[12] which, with a finances of US$175 million, was the most costly stage manufacturing so far.[13]

Nevertheless, the investments have paid off. By 2022, 675,600 tickets had already been bought for “ABBA Voyage,” producing a income of GBP 97.1 million and a pre-tax revenue of practically GBP 3 million for Aniara Ltd., the corporate accountable for the digital present. In 2023, the variety of tickets bought rose to 1.1 million, leading to a turnover of GBP 103.7 million and a pre-tax revenue of GBP 6.1 million.[14] In December 2024, it was introduced that “ABBA Voyage” had bought 3 million tickets since its premiere and generated a gross worth added of GBP 775 million for the London economic system in its first two years.[15] Subsequently, it’s not shocking that these accountable sought a approach to make sure that “ABBA Voyage” would keep in London past April 2026, when the sector’s allow expires and it is because of make approach for a residential development mission.[16] The live performance corridor resembles a UFO and could be utterly dismantled and rebuilt elsewhere as a result of it was at all times meant for a global tour as a part of the “ABBA Voyage” mission.[17]

ABBA-tare as Position Fashions for Different Music Avatars: Avicii and KISS

Nevertheless, “ABBA Voyage” may quickly be increasing. Pophouse Leisure, the occasion and music rights firm co-founded by Björn Ulvaeus in 2014 and an investor in “ABBA Voyage”, has been shopping for up music catalogues from quite a few artists since 2022. For instance, in March 2022, Pophouse introduced that it had bought the grasp and publishing rights of the Swedish EDM group Swedish Home Mafia.[18] Nevertheless, Pophouse prompted a stir on the finish of September 2022 when it acquired 75 per cent of the grasp and publishing rights of the Swedish DJ Avicii, who died younger, from his heirs, the Bergling household.[19] It appeared probably that Avicii may very well be “resurrected” as a digital musician sooner or later. This assumption was confirmed in April 2024 when Pophouse acquired not solely the tune catalogue and related artist royalties of the glam rock band KISS, but additionally their NIL rights (title, picture, likeness), together with the rights to their distinctive face paint, for US $300 million. Per Sundin, now CEO of Pophouse and former head of Common Sweden, defined: “Our partnership will fuse the wealthy historical past and iconic standing of KISS with cutting-edge know-how, permitting followers – now and sooner or later – to expertise the band like by no means earlier than.”[20] This additionally contains the creation of avatars of the musicians modelled on the ABBA-tare, which may then go on tour as a digital band, as evidenced by an settlement that KISS concluded 4 months earlier than the rights take care of Pophouse.[21] KISS already has expertise with performances by their avatars. On the finish of their live performance at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis, the enduring American band had their avatars carry out “God Gave Rock And Roll To You” as an encore, as evidenced by a promotional clip on YouTube.[22] We’re subsequently at first of a improvement whereby dwelling and deceased artists will take to the live performance stage within the type of AI-generated avatars. This may have vital financial implications. Avatars of superstars may carry out elsewhere on the similar time, relieving their human position fashions of the necessity to go on tour. This may additional focus the reside music market, which is already dominated by the famous person impact, making it tougher for youthful musicians to construct a profession. Moreover, music rights, significantly persona rights (NIL rights), will proceed to extend in worth as they’re

Endnotes

[1] Wikipedia, “Mamma Mia! (movie)”, model of August 22, 2025, accessed: 2025-08-22.

[2] Wikipedia, “Mamma Mia! (musical)”, model of August 24, 2025, accessed: 2025-08-22.

[3] Cited in The Guardian, “Abba reunion: Don’t maintain your breath”, July 7, 2008, accessed: 2025-08-26.

[4] Enterprise Insider, “Why ABBA Turned Down $1 Billion To Reunite In 2000”, July 9, 2014, accessed: 2025-08-26.

[5] Billboard, “‘Digital’ ABBA Coming Quickly By way of Partnership with Simon Fuller and Common Music”, October 26, 2016, accessed: 2025-08-26.

[6] BBC Information, “Abba announce first new music since 1982”, April 27, 2018, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[7] Esquire, “Tremendous Trouper”, July 21, 2022, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[8] An in depth description of the technical implementation of the digital ABBA mission could be discovered within the journal Ingenia, “How ABBA Voyage was made”, September 2022, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[9] Ibid.

[10] NME, “ABBA Voyage’s creators inform us how they made the present, and what’s subsequent”, Could 28, 2022, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[11] Ingenia, “How ABBA Voyage was made”, September 2022, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[12] The Guardian, “Abba Voyage assessment: jaw-dropping avatar act that’s destined to be copied”, Could 26, 2022, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[13] Musically, “Bloomberg breaks down numbers behind ABBA Voyage’s success”, September 5, 2023, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[14] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “ABBA Voyage generated $129m in 2023, as digital live performance collection attracts 1.1m guests”, October 1, 2024, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[15] ITV Information, “Abba Voyage to promote its 3,000,000th ticket this month after London present introduced £1.4bn economic system enhance”, December 9, 2024, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[16] Metro, “May Abba Voyage be leaving London for good?”, April 2, 2024, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[17] Ingenia, “How ABBA Voyage was made”, September 2022, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[18] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Swedish Home Mafia promote grasp recordings and publishing catalogs to Pophouse”, March 29, 2022, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[19] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Pophouse Leisure buys 75% of Avicii grasp recordings and publishing”, September 28, 2022, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[20] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “KISS sells tune catalog, title and IP to Pophouse, firm behind ABBA Voyage, in $300m deal”, April 4, 2024, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[21] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “KISS to stage avatar present in partnership with Pophouse Leisure, following the success of ABBA Voyage in London”, December 4, 2023, accessed: 2025-08-27.

[22] YouTube, “KISS – A New Period Begins”, December 3, 2023, accessed: 2025-08-27.

New audio podcasts from Trampled by Turtles and Mary Chapin Carpenter

by Admin | Oct 19, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News

Apple Podcasts, Spσtify, Amazon Podcasts, αnd other programs are available to subscribe ⱱia.

This episode of Kyle Meredith With features behind conversations with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Erik Berry from this year’s Whiskey &amp, Beyond Festival. It’s α two-part series. Listen in the apps above or wherever you can find them.

IPRMENTLAW Weekly Highlights (September 29 – October 5, 2025)

by Admin | Oct 12, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News

Authorities Notifies Draft Promotion and Regulation of On-line Gaming Guidelines, 2025 to Oversee E-Sports activities and Social Gaming

On this draft notification, the Ministry of Electronics and Data Expertise has proposed the Promotion and Regulation of On-line Gaming Guidelines, 2025 underneath the On-line Gaming Act, 2025, establishing a complete regulatory framework for on-line social video games and e-sports. The draft gives for the creation of the On-line Gaming Authority of India, empowered to find out whether or not a sport qualifies as a web-based cash sport, register and preserve a nationwide registry of authorized e-sports and on-line social video games, challenge and cancel certificates of registration, and impose penalties for violations. It introduces definitions, registration procedures, grievance redressal mechanisms, and enchantment processes, whereas mandating disclosure of any “materials change” in gameplay or monetisation. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports activities will administer issues associated to e-sports, and the Ministry of Data and Broadcasting will oversee on-line social video games. The Guidelines intention to advertise secure, age-appropriate, and clear gaming practices whereas curbing real-money gaming and making certain person safety.

Learn the draft guidelines right here.

Bombay Excessive Courtroom grants interim safety to Asha Bhosle towards AI misuse of her voice

The Bombay Excessive Courtroom has granted short-term reduction to playback singer Asha Bhosle in her swimsuit looking for safety of her persona rights from alleged unauthorised use by AI platforms. Asha Bhosle claimed that US-based entities distorted her sound recordings to create illicit AI voice fashions replicating her voice and elegance, which have been then commercialised by on-line marketplaces. Courtroom directed interim safety pending additional listening to, noting her declare that such use infringes her ethical rights and exploits her repute constructed over a long time. The case follows related reduction granted to singer Arijit Singh in 2024 and raises crucial points on AI misuse of superstar voice and picture.

Delhi Excessive Courtroom restrains use of ‘Barbie’ mark, grants ad-interim reduction to Mattel

The Delhi Excessive Courtroom has restrained a person from utilizing the trademark “Barbie” or any deceptively related variant for enterprise ventures, together with Barbie Enterprises and associated entities, after Mattel Inc. filed a swimsuit for infringement. Courtroom held that the defendant’s adoption of the enduring mark was visually, phonetically, and conceptually equivalent, aimed toward deceptive shoppers, and with out justification. The Courtroom directed takedown of social media accounts, suspension of domains barbieenterprise.com and barbieenterprise.in, and removing of infringing materials. The Courtroom discovered that Mattel had established a prima facie case, with stability of comfort in its favour and threat of irreparable hurt if reduction was denied.

Bombay Excessive Courtroom grants Malabar Gold & Diamonds reduction towards defamatory social media marketing campaign

The Bombay Excessive Courtroom has directed Meta and different defendants to take away 442 URLs carrying posts falsely linking Malabar Gold & Diamonds to Pakistan, granting the corporate interim reduction in its defamation swimsuit. The Courtroom accepted competition {that a} focused marketing campaign was launched towards Malabar after temporary engagement of a UK-based influencer of Pakistani origin, regardless of her subsequent removing from the model’s promotion. The Courtroom restrained additional defamatory publications, barred circulation of comparable content material, and arrange a mechanism for takedown of latest URLs, emphasising that mere affiliation with an influencer can’t justify reputational assaults. The order safeguards Malabar’s model picture in the course of the festive season and underscores judicial recognition of digital defamation dangers.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan sue YouTube and Google over AI deepfake movies

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan have filed a Rs 4 crore defamation and persona rights swimsuit towards YouTube and Google, alleging the platform hosts sexually express AI-generated deepfake movies misusing their names, photographs, and voices. The couple seeks removing and everlasting ban of such content material, together with safeguards stopping its use in AI mannequin coaching. Their petition cites a YouTube channel, AI Bollywood Ishq, which has uploaded over 259 manipulated clips, amassing 16.5 million views. The Bachchans argue YouTube’s insurance policies enable harmful misuse, as infringing content material can each flow into publicly and be multiplied by AI coaching.

US court docket dismisses Indian filmmaker’s declare that Squid Recreation copied movie Luck

A US federal court docket has dismissed filmmaker Soham Shah’s lawsuit alleging that Netflix’s Squid Recreation copied his 2009 movie Luck. The swimsuit, filed in 2024, claimed each works concerned debt-ridden people risking their lives for money prizes. Courtroom rejected the declare, holding that Shah didn’t personal Luck’s copyright and that the “whole idea and general really feel” of the 2 works have been materially completely different. The court docket famous that Luck carried a tone of magical realism centred on the concept of luck, whereas Squid Recreation was darkish, unsettling, and constructed round dystopian survival themes.

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