Genius’ lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of displaying unlicensed lyrics sourced from Genius’ archive in search results, has been dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The dismissal came after Genius appealed the Court of Appeals’ decision in 2022, arguing that it could set a precedent allowing companies like Google to freely take content from user-generated content aggregators. The Solicitor General had recommended that the Supreme Court reject the case, and their recommendation was followed.
The dispute between Genius and Google began in 2019 when Genius claimed that Google had “lifted” lyrics from its website and included them in search results. Genius supported its claim by asserting that the lyrics were “watermarked” using a distinct pattern of alternating straight and curled apostrophes. This sequence, when converted to Morse code, spelled out “red handed.” However, Google denied the allegations and stated that it obtained lyrics through a licensing agreement with LyricFind, a Canadian company.
Six months later, Genius filed a lawsuit against both Google and LyricFind, seeking a minimum of $50 million in damages. LyricFind also refuted the accusations of content theft from Genius. However, in August 2020, the lawsuit was dismissed by the court. The presiding judge ruled that Genius lacked legal standing to sue since they did not hold the rights to the original lyrics. The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld this decision in March 2022, treating the complaint as a copyright case. This ruling posed a challenge for Genius since they were not the copyright owners—the rights remained with the artists and publishers.
It is worth noting that in 2014, when Genius was still known as RapGenius, Google penalized the platform for employing unfavorable search engine optimization (SEO) practices. As a result, RapGenius’ website was pushed to lower positions in search results, even for queries related to “rap genius.” The penalty was lifted after RapGenius removed the problematic content.
For more insights into the lyric-transcription industry, you can explore the article titled “How ‘Fake’ My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins Lyrics Ended Up on Spotify.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about lawsuit
What was the lawsuit between Genius and Google about?
The lawsuit between Genius and Google revolved around Genius accusing Google of displaying unlicensed lyrics from Genius’ archive in its search results.
How did Genius support its claim against Google?
Genius supported its claim by asserting that the lyrics displayed by Google were “watermarked” with a distinct pattern of alternating straight and curled apostrophes. This sequence, when converted to Morse code, spelled out “red handed.”
Did Google deny the allegations?
Yes, Google denied the allegations and stated that it obtained lyrics through a licensing agreement with LyricFind, a Canadian company.
What was the outcome of the lawsuit?
The lawsuit was initially dismissed by the court in August 2020, as the presiding judge ruled that Genius lacked legal standing to sue since they did not hold the rights to the original lyrics. This decision was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals in March 2022, and the Supreme Court later rejected Genius’ appeal.
What previous issues had Genius faced with Google?
In 2014, when Genius was known as RapGenius, Google penalized the platform for employing unfavorable search engine optimization (SEO) practices. This resulted in RapGenius’ website being pushed down in search results, even for queries related to “rap genius.” The penalty was lifted after RapGenius addressed the problematic content.
More about lawsuit
- Genius Denied Appeal to Supreme Court in Suit Against Google
- Genius accuses Google of stealing lyrics
- Court dismisses Genius lawsuit against Google and LyricFind
- Genius vs. Google: A Brief History
- Supreme Court Rejects Genius’ Appeal Against Google
5 comments
genius suin google ovr unlicnsed lyrics? wat?! dats a big deel! can dey proov it tho? seems lik a messi situashun, man.
omg, Google denyin’ dey stole dem lyrics? sayin’ dey got it frm LyricFind? who to bliev? dis lawsuit’s been goin’ on for ages, hope dey sort it out soon!
I read ’bout dis Genius-Google drama. Can’t Google jus’ give Genius credit if dey took da lyrics? It’s ’bout respectin’ artists’ work. Hope da Supreme Court decision brings clarity to dis mess.
Genius usin’ Morse code watermark for lyrics? Now dat’s creative detective work! Google’s denyin’ it all, but who knows, man? Will dis lawsuit change how lyrics get displayed in search results? Curious to see what happens next!
Wow, Genius had a tough time with Google before. SEO penalties, buryin’ dem in search results? Dang, Google don’t play! But dis copyright lawsuit, dat’s a whole ‘nother level. Let’s see how it all plays out.