Blue Spike and Warner Music Group have reached a settlement in their patent infringement lawsuit, while a similar case against Universal Music Group continues.

The settlement between WMG and Blue Spike was confirmed in a recent dismissal order by Judge Jesse M. Furman. The lawsuit centered on four data-protection patents related to Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) technology, stemming from a 2016 partnership aimed at delivering HD audio to consumers.

Blue Spike, a Texas-based company holding over 100 patents, was instrumental in developing digital watermarking technology and had previously collaborated with major music labels on software initiatives.

Key Settlement Details:

• The court dismissed the case without costs
• All pending motions were canceled
• A 60-day window was established for Blue Spike to reopen the case if the settlement fails
• Specific settlement terms remain confidential

Meanwhile, Blue Spike's parallel lawsuit against Universal Music Group continues with complications. The company has reported difficulties obtaining basic information about UMG's use of the MQA encryption system. In May 2024, Blue Spike requested and received a 180-day extension for all deadlines after UMG claimed to have "virtually no information about MQA."

Recent Developments:

• Blue Spike has requested to examine UMG's MQA file encryption computers
• A scheduling conference is pending
• The case remains active with ongoing discovery disputes

The contrasting outcomes of these two cases highlight the complex nature of patent litigation in the music industry's digital technology sphere.

Related Articles

Previous Articles