The National Music Publishers' Association's (NMPA) copyright lawsuit against Twitter/X will proceed on contributory infringement grounds, following a partial dismissal by Federal Judge Aleta Trauger.

Key Rulings:

1. Direct Infringement Claim Dismissed

• Court determined Twitter/X's conduct doesn't fall under the Copyright Act's "transmit clause"
• Platform deemed more similar to a telephone company than a content curator

2. Contributory Infringement Claims Allowed to proceed on three specific grounds:

• Allowing verified users to receive preferential treatment under anti-infringement policies
• Unreasonable delays in handling takedown notices
• Failure to take appropriate action against repeat infringers

3. Vicarious Infringement Claim

• Dismissed entirely
• Related evidence can still support the contributory infringement claim

The court rejected arguments about Twitter/X's general platform practices, noting that features like tweet monetization weren't specifically targeted at infringing content. Judge Trauger emphasized that contributory infringement doctrine is the most appropriate tool for addressing the platform's alleged misconduct.

The NMPA expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating they look forward to securing compensation for affected songwriters and music publishers.

This ruling represents a significant development in the ongoing battle between music rights holders and social media platforms over copyright protection and compensation for creative works.

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