Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst has achieved a new legal victory in his ongoing $200 million lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), as a federal judge ruled that copyright infringement claims can proceed in federal court.
The lawsuit, filed in October 2024, centers around allegations that UMG failed to pay recording royalties for approximately 45 million copies of Limp Bizkit's works sold and streamed while under the Flip Records and Interscope/Geffen/A&M labels.
According to court documents, UMG had previously claimed the band hadn't recouped their $43 million advance from the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, after obtaining new financial representation in April 2024, Durst's team discovered UMG owed $1.03 million to the band and an additional $2.3 million to Durst's Flawless Records imprint.
The case took an interesting turn when Durst alleged that UMG's accounting software had failed to notify the band about eligible funds, with the company attributing this to a "software error." The lawsuit also claims that Flip Records engaged in a profit-sharing scheme with UMG at the band's expense.
While Judge Percy Anderson initially ruled against Durst's attempt to void various recording contracts in January, the latest March 17th decision allows the copyright infringement claims to continue in federal court. Several other claims will need to be refiled in state court, which Durst's legal team has confirmed they plan to pursue.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $200 million, with Durst's team arguing that the amount reflects years of unpaid royalties and potential copyright infringement damages. UMG continues to deny these allegations, maintaining that they have paid all outstanding royalties and profits.
This ongoing legal battle highlights broader issues within the music industry regarding royalty payments and contract transparency, with potential implications for other artists signed to major labels.