Vimeo Wins at Appeal in Major Copyright Case

On January 13th, 2025, Reuters reported that Vimeo has prevailed at the appellate level of a major copyright infringement case. Vimeo—the New York-based video hosting company—was able to fend off a copyright challenge from Universal Music Group and Sony Music. It is a long-standing conflict that centers around the scope of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Within this blog post, our Florida copyright infringement attorney provides an overview of the case.

Background: Copyright Dispute Between Vimeo and Universal Music Group/Sony Music 

Vimeo and Universal Music Group (UMG)/Sony Music have been locked in a complex, multi-year copyright infringement dispute. Indeed, the lawsuit at the heart of this copyright case was initially filed back in 2009. The music labels have long argued that the video hosting service has improperly  allowed user-generated content featuring unlicensed music owned by these major record labels to be hosted on its platform without taking effective action to stop it. In other words, UMG and Sony argue that Vimeo has failed to properly enforce their copyright protections and that it should face liability for allowing copyright infringement by third party users.

 Vimeo Successfully Fended Off an Appeal of the Copyright Claim On DMCA Grounds 

In January 2025, the United State Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled in favor of Vimeo. The court determined that the DMCA protects the video sharing service. In doing so, the appellate court upheld the previous decisions. The appellate court emphasized that Vimeo’s general awareness of potential infringement does not equate to actual and specific knowledge of illegal content—which is required by the DCMA. Judge Pierre N. Leval noted that even if an average person might suspect unauthorized use, it would not be obvious that any particular video lacked copyright authorization. The court also dismissed claims that Vimeo profited from the infringing content while having the right and ability to control it.

 Understanding the DMCA

 The crux of the case involved the application of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which provides “safe harbor” protections for internet service providers (ISPs) from liability for user-generated content—that is, provided that they remove infringing material in a timely manner upon notification.

The DMCA is a U.S. law that was enacted in 1998 in order to address copyright issues in the digital age. The key provision is that it provides “safe harbor” protections for online platforms. In effect, it shields them from liability for user-uploaded content. The DMCA was put into place in order to balance the rights of copyright holders with the operational needs of online platforms.

 Consult With Our South Florida Copyright Lawyer for Immediate Legal Help

At Perkins Law – Brand Protection, our Florida brand protection attorney has extensive experience handling copyright infringement cases. Have questions about your rights or your options? Our team is here as a resource. Contact our IP law firm today to set up your fully confidential, no obligation case review. We provide copyright law services throughout all of South Florida.

Source:

reuters.com/legal/litigation/vimeo-wins-us-appeal-defeat-record-labels-copyright-lawsuit-2025-01-13/