Associated Production Music (APM) has reached confidential settlements with multiple American Hockey League (AHL) teams in an ongoing copyright infringement dispute. The settlements specifically involve Capital Sports & Entertainment (operating the Belleville Senators) and Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (owner of the Hershey Bears).

The lawsuit, filed in September, alleged that several AHL teams used APM recordings in social media promotional videos without proper licensing. While these two teams have settled, litigation continues with other defendants, including the Ontario Reign and Tucson Roadrunners.

Key points about the settlements:

• Terms remain confidential
• Court rejected a 45-day pause request for Capital's dismissal deadlines
• Parties must maintain all court deadlines until formal dismissals are filed

The AHL's position remains firm, with the league denying any wrongdoing in their December response. They maintain they weren't legally required to obtain licenses for the disputed content usage.

This case highlights a broader trend in music licensing disputes on social media, where companies often mistakenly use platform song libraries for commercial purposes without proper licensing. Similar lawsuits have been filed by major music companies including Universal Music, Sony Music, and Kobalt against NBA teams, Marriott, and other large corporations.

APM continues to actively pursue copyright infringement cases, including a recent action against Johnson & Johnson for alleged violations on social media platforms.

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