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 · 21D · 30N (163 articles)→Recent 30d 3P · 0D · 0N (3 articles)
Press coverage leans plaintiff-favorable; no court ruling has been classified yet.
Coverage breakdown — the articles behind the meter
45 plaintiff-favorable · 47 defendant-favorable · 74 neutral articles
The meter counts distinct coverage events, not articles: 26 plaintiff · 21 defendant · 30 neutral events — a burst of same-stance coverage counts once, however many outlets ran it.
- Sony & UMG Turn Up The Pressure On DistroKid Over AI-Generated SongsHotNewHipHop · 2026-10-19
- Warner Music Sues Ray-Ban Owner Over 427 Songs Used in Social Media AdsLaw Commentary · 2026-10-13
- Trending Music: A Hidden Copyright Risk in Influencer MarketingThe National Law Review · 2026-10-07
- UMG, Sony Hit Suno With New Copyright Lawsuit Days After AI Model LaunchLaw Commentary · 2026-09-20
- 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
- 2026-09-23
Cause
17:501 Copyright Infringement
Entities in this case
Parties
LaFace Records, LLC (plaintiff) Records Label, LLC (plaintiff) Zomba Recording LLC (plaintiff) Ultra Records, LLC (plaintiff) Arista Records, LLC (plaintiff) Arista Music (plaintiff) Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC (plaintiff) Sony Music Entertainment (plaintiff) Does (defendant) Topo Athletic LLC (defendant) DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc. (defendant) Designer Brands Inc. (defendant)
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.