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28 February 2020CopyrightEdward Pearcey

Peloton and NMPA settle song usage suit, sign collaboration deal

Interactive fitness company Peloton Interactive has settled a multi-million dollar court battle with the National Music Publishers Association ( NMPA), after the latter had sued the fitness company over the unlicensed use of songs.

The NMPA had been seeking damages of over $300 million (lifted from $150 million originally), claiming Peloton was illegally using more than a thousand pop songs as part of its workout routines broadcast via its fitness bikes.

However, on Thursday, February 27, the two parties revealed a collaboration agreement that will see “Peloton and the trade association work together to further optimise Peloton’s music licensing systems and processes”, according to a joint statement.

“We’re proud to partner with David [Israelite, NMPA president and CEO] and the NMPA to ensure that songwriters are, and continue to be, fairly compensated,” said Paul DeGooyer, head of music, Peloton.

“With the NMPA’s input, we are confident our state-of-the-art music system will provide a dynamic fitness experience for our millions of members worldwide,” added DeGooyer.

David Israelite said, “We are pleased the music publishers and their songwriter partners in this case have reached a settlement with Peloton that compensates creators properly and sets forth the environment for a positive relationship going forward.”

The precise details of the collaboration have not yet been revealed. Financial terms of the settlement have also not been disclosed.

Several NMPA members originally filed a lawsuit against Peloton early last year, seeking $150 million (£115 million) in damages. In September 2019, a US district judge allowed the NMPA request to file an amended complaint, which doubled the potential damages to $300 million.

The NMPA is the trade association representing all American music publishers and their songwriting partners, with a mandate to protect and advance the copyright interests of music publishers and songwriters.

Peloton describes itself as the world’s largest interactive fitness platform, with a global user base of over two million members.

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More on this story

Trademarks
30 September 2019   A US district judge has allowed the National Music Publishers' Association's request to file an amended complaint, which doubles damages to $300 million against exercise startup company Peloton.
Patents
19 October 2020   The company behind home fitness brand NordicTrack has claimed that rival Peloton infringed its patents through the sale of Peloton’s new Bike+ product and continued a “pattern of infringement”.
Patents
15 December 2020   Mad Dogg Athletics, a manufacturer of indoor exercise bikes, has claimed that Peloton is infringing two patents covering “core features of a stationary exercise bike” designed to simulate an instructor-led class.