Happy World IP Day: Feel the Beat of IP!

Music touches every industry, and intellectual property (IP) plays a crucial role in extending its reach beyond the music world. Whether in film, entertainment, technology, fashion, video games, or consumer goods, IP rights enable music to connect with various sectors, fostering creative collaborations and innovations that drive economic growth. Even when we are not consciously thinking about it, the influence of music and IP is always embedded in our daily lives.

World Intellectual Property Day 2025 emphasises the vital role that creativity and innovation, supported by IP rights, play in sustaining a vibrant music scene that benefits people worldwide. This year’s theme encourages us to explore how IP rights and innovation policies empower creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs to introduce new ideas to the music industry, protecting the work of songwriters, composers, performers, and all those who shape the music that inspires us.

On 26 April, we celebrate the contributions of creators, inventors, and entrepreneurs who are pushing the boundaries of innovation and creativity to produce music that unites people, stirs powerful emotions, drives change, and inspires a more innovative future.

Let us take a closer look at some notable cases where IP intersects with the music world — highlighting how copyright, licensing, and performance rights play a crucial role in protecting creativity and resolving disputes.

Miley Cyrus sued for copyright infringement over 'Flowers

On 16 September 2024, a copyright infringement lawsuit was filed in a Los Angeles court against Miley Cyrus concerning her 2023 hit "Flowers." The suit was brought by Tempo Music Investments, which holds rights to several of Bruno Mars’s songs. The company alleges that Cyrus copied significant elements from Mars’ 2012 track "When I Was Your Man."

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YouTube blocks music by Adele, Nirvana and Green Day in the US - Starlink sends copyright infringement notices for downloading pirated content

On 28 September 2024, YouTube users in the United States found music videos by renowned artists like Adele, Green Day, Nirvana, and Bob Dylan blocked from access. Instead of being able to watch popular tracks such as Adele's Someone Like You or Green Day's Boulevard of Broken Dreams, viewers were met with a message indicating that the content was unavailable in their country due to rights held by SESAC. 

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