Sony Music Entertainment v. Designer Brands Inc.
Summary
Sony Music sues Designer Brands and shoe retailers for copyright infringement related to music recordings.
Summary generated by AI from public docket data. Verify against the original filing before relying on it.
Coverage vs reality meter
Prior 23P · 46D · 68N→Recent 30d 10P · 1D · 5N
Press coverage is turning toward the plaintiff.
Coverage breakdown — the headlines behind the meter
33 plaintiff-favorable · 47 defendant-favorable · 73 neutral
- Using music for brands’ social media: How not to fall foul of copyright lawWorld IP Review · 2026-08-28
- Sony Music Sues Kroger Over 392 Alleged Unlicensed Uses of Songs in Social Media AdsLaw Commentary · 2026-08-26
- Sony Music Sues Over Unauthorized Songs in Social Media Posts, Kroger Faces Up to $59MNet Influencer · 2026-08-26
- Sony Music sues Kroger over 392 songs in $58.8M copyright claimPPC Land · 2026-08-25
- Ohio Judge Tosses DSW Suit Against Sony In Copyright FightLaw360 · 2026-08-06
- Why a fight over 61,000 recordings could shape the future of AI music licensingMusic Business Worldwide · 2026-07-14
- Suno, sued by major labels, says ‘transparency is important’ as record industry proposes AI labeling systemMusic Business Worldwide · 2026-07-13
- Supreme Court reins in service provider copyright liability in Sony Music caseIAM Patent · 2026-07-08
Coverage sentiment vs. docket activity over time
Counsel of record
- Shapiro Arato Bach LLPAvery D. Medjuck, Cynthia S. Arato, Fabien Thayamballi
- Law Offices of Max J. SprecherMax J. Sprecher
- Barnes and Thornburg LLPBrian Nguyen, Garrett Scott Llewellyn, Jeffrey M. Barron
- Hahn Loeser and Parks LLPChristina Hassel
- Court
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- Docket no.
- 2:25-cv-07285
- Nature of suit
- Copyright
- Judge
- Brianna Fuller Mircheff
- Filed
- 2025-08-06
- Last filing
- 2026-08-17
Cause
17:501 Copyright Infringement
Entities in this case
Parties
Does Topo Athletic LLC DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc. Designer Brands Inc. LaFace Records, LLC Records Label, LLC Zomba Recording LLC Ultra Records, LLC Arista Records, LLC Arista Music Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC Sony Music Entertainment
Docket entries
- #832026-07-09
No description on file
- #822026-07-09
No description on file
- 2026-07-08
No description on file
- #802026-07-06
MOTION RE: INFORMAL DISCOVERY DISPUTE: Video Conference set for hearing on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Brianna Fuller Mircheff, via Zoom. Zoom information can be found on the court's website under Judge Mircheff's Procedures and Schedules. (ch) (Entered: 07/06/2026)
- #792026-06-25
ORDER EXTENDING TIME TO FILE FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT AND CONDUCT ASSOCIATED JURISDICTIONAL DISCOVERY AND EXTENDING OTHER CASE DEADLINES by Magistrate Judge Brianna Fuller Mircheff: granting 78 Fifth STIPULATION for Extension of Time to File First Amended Complaint, Fifth STIPULATION for Discovery as to Jurisdiction (Extension of Time). IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the time for Plaintiffs to file and serve their First Amended Complaint and to complete jurisdictional discovery is extended through and including September 16, 2026. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the following case deadlines are extended as follows: (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). (hr) (Entered: 06/26/2026)
- #782026-06-24
Fifth STIPULATION for Extension of Time to File First Amended Complaint, Fifth STIPULATION for Discovery as to Jurisdiction (Extension of Time) filed by Plaintiffs Arista Music, Arista Records, LLC, LaFace Records, LLC, Records Label, LLC, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC, Ultra Records, LLC, Zomba Recording LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Arato, Cynthia) Modified on 6/25/2026 (ch). Modified on 6/26/2026 (hr). (Entered: 06/24/2026)
- #772026-06-05
ORDER by Magistrate Judge Brianna Fuller Mircheff granting 76 Non-Resident Attorney Christina T. Hassel APPLICATION to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Defendant Designer Brands Inc., designating Garrett Scott Llewellyn as local counsel. (san) (Entered: 06/05/2026)
- #762026-05-29
APPLICATION of Non-Resident Attorney Christina T. Hassel to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Defendants DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc., Designer Brands Inc., Topo Athletic LLC (Pro Hac Vice Fee - $450 Fee Paid, Receipt No. ACACDC-42410267) filed by Defendants DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc., Designer Brands Inc., Topo Athletic LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) (Llewellyn, Garrett) (Entered: 05/29/2026)
- #752026-05-20
Notice of Filing of Supplemental Declaration of Katherine Alfano in Correcting October 7, 2025 Declaration [Dkt. 24-8] filed by Defendant DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc., Designer Brands Inc., Topo Athletic LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Supplemental Declaration of Katherine Alfano)(Llewellyn, Garrett) (Entered: 05/20/2026)
- #742026-05-01
ORDER EXTENDING TIME TO FILE FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT AND CONDUCT ASSOCIATED JURISDICTIONAL DISCOVERY by Magistrate Judge Brianna Fuller Mircheff, 73 . The Court hereby GRANTS the relief requested as follows: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the time for Plaintiffs to file and serve their First Amended Complaint and to complete jurisdictional discovery is extended by sixty-three (63) days, up to and including June 30, 2026. (san) (Entered: 05/01/2026)
- #732026-04-30
Fourth STIPULATION for Extension of Time to File First Amended Complaint, Fourth STIPULATION for Discovery as to Jurisdiction (Extension of Time) filed by Plaintiffs Arista Music, Arista Records, LLC, LaFace Records, LLC, Records Label, LLC, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC, Ultra Records, LLC, Zomba Recording LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Arato, Cynthia) Modified on 5/1/2026 (jm). (Entered: 04/30/2026)
- 2026-04-23
No description on file
- 2026-04-21
No description on file
- 2026-04-06
No description on file
- 2026-04-03
No description on file
- 2026-04-02
No description on file
- 2026-03-18
No description on file
- 2026-02-13
No description on file
- 2025-10-15
No description on file
- 2025-09-03
No description on file
Docket history from CourtListener/RECAP — most recent first.