A judge has ordered Triller Inc. to pay more than $2 million to Universal Music Publishing Inc. on the plaintiff’s breach-of-contract claim that the video social media app failed to pay licensing fees outlined in its contracts.
Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Mark Epstein signed the judgment on Tuesday, a month after granting Universal’s motion to enter judgment in its favor without the contract breach claim having to go before a jury.
Universal maintained the two sides entered a pair of agreements in 2020-21. Triller agreed to pay “synch license fees” for use of Universal songs on Triller videos and the app promised to pay a minimum guarantee of $1 million in quarterly installments, but stopped after the third payment, the suit filed Jan. 5 states.
Triller also signed a music app agreement in which it committed to pay a licensing fee of $2.2 million and past use fee of $724,000 for prior use of Universal music, but once again failed in its obligations, this time after four payments, the suit states.
Triller was given 30 days to pay the money owed, but when it failed to do so the plaintiff canceled the contract with a total of $2.01 million owed, the suit states.
In their court papers, Triller lawyers denied any wrongdoing. However, in his ruling the judge said Triller did not file opposition papers to Universal’s motion.