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Warner Music Group

Controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2026

    Warner Music sues six Ray-Ban-linked eyewear companies over unlicensed music in social media adverts

    Lawsuit filed

    A Warner Music lawsuit filed in New York on 9 October 2026 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York accuses six EssilorLuxottica-linked companies — Luxottica Group S.p.A., Luxottica of America, Oakley, Chapter 4 Corp., Costa Del Mar and Eye Buy Direct — of using copyrighted music in social media adverts for eyewear brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley and Sunglass Hut without permission. The 23 Warner-affiliated plaintiffs allege unauthorised use of at least 427 sound recordings and musical compositions, including direct, contributory and vicarious copyright infringement, and seek up to $150,000 in statutory damages per work. The allegations are Warner's account and have not been tested by the court.

    Source excerpt

    • The plaintiffs seek up to $150,000 (£114,000) in statutory damages per work.
    • The businesses are linked to EssilorLuxottica, and the 23 Warner-affiliated plaintiffs allege unauthorised use of at least 427 sound recordings and musical compositions.
    • Yoakam's legal filing claims that Warner Music subsidiary Rhino has refused to definitively acknowledge that he has reclaimed the rights to certain works — specifically, his recordings of "Honky Tonk Man" and "Miner's Prayer" — despite repeated notices on his part of his intent to do so.
    Source

  2. 2020

    Warner Music Group discloses e-commerce data breach

    Issue disclosure

    Warner Music Group disclosed that an unauthorized third party compromised e-commerce websites it operated. According to the disclosure, the intruder used data-skimming malware to access customer information entered during transactions between April 25 and August 5, 2020. The number of affected customers had not been disclosed.

    Company response

    • Remediation — Warner Music Group

      Affected customers have been offered 12 months of identity monitoring services free of charge by Warner.

    Source excerpt

    • By installing data-skimming malware on the sites, the threat actor was able to access information being entered by customers.
    • Warner Music Group has issued a data breach notification following a prolonged skimming attack on an undisclosed number of its e-commerce websites.
    • E-commerce websites that are hosted and supported by an external service provider in the US but operated by Warner were found to have been compromised by an unauthorized third party.
    Source

  3. 2020

    Warner Music Group e-commerce data breach

    Issue disclosure

    Warner Music Group disclosed that attackers had access to a number of its US-based e-commerce websites from April 25, 2020, and may have copied customers’ personal and payment-card information. The company said it learned of the breach on August 5, 2020, and notified potentially affected customers.

    Company response

    • Investigation — Warner Music Group

      Warner Music says it has launched an investigation into the incident

    • Remediation — Warner Music Group

      The company is offering affected customers 12 months of free identity monitoring services through Kroll.

    Source excerpt

    • In a data breach notification submitted to the California Attorney General, the music company said it learned of the breach on August 5, but the hackers had access to the impacted websites since April 25, 2020.
    • The company is offering affected customers 12 months of free identity monitoring services through Kroll.
    • Warner Music says it has launched an investigation into the incident and it has notified both law enforcement and the issuers of the compromised credit cards.
    Source