Freeplay Music Hires Technology Company to Track Copyright Infringement
In January 2026, Freeplay Music, LLC (“Freeplay”) filed a Complaint alleging that Loyola University (“Loyola”) in Maryland had used no fewer than 22 tracks (songs or sound recordings) in at least 36 videos without purchasing the appropriate licenses.
In this day and age, it can be increasingly challenging for companies to find and address unlicensed use of their works online. Every day, thousands of videos are created and published on the internet, many of which may use copyrighted works without permission. Freeplay, the source of over 50,000 licensable works, turned to an outside source for help with locating potential copyright infringement.
TuneSat, LLC (“TuneSat”), a technology company that helps businesses discover illegal digital uses of their music or sound recordings, detected the alleged copyright violation by Loyola, prompting Freeplay to initiate a lawsuit.
Freeplay alleged that Loyola had willfully used these songs “as if FPM’s music library was their own personal cookie jar” (2). According to the Complaint, the sound tracks in question were only accessible via the Freeplay website, which clearly publishes the need to obtain a license.
The case was settled in February of this year before reaching trial.
This case highlights a rising trend wherein music companies are rigorously enforcing copyright accountability through working with technology companies like TuneSat. While it may be easy for university employees to assume use of one track will go unnoticed, this pattern reminds all to proactively educate their employees on copyright and to be extra vigilant in complying with copyright law.