Jeff Bezos has been accused of “willful blindness” by music rights holders for using unlicensed songs on Amazon’s Twitch streaming service.
Artist’s Rights Alliance (ARA), a non-profit organization run by musicians and songwriters, has singled out Amazon boss in copyright infringement battle after filing 2,500 complaints against the misuse of music on Twitch since June.
Twitch, bought by Amazon for $ 970 million in 2014, has grown in popularity since the lockdown began, serving primarily as a site for gamers streaming gameplay to subscribers, often with unlicensed music playing in the background. ‘a live stream. It has over 15 million daily active users and has quickly grown into a larger entertainment service.
In a draft letter seen by the Telegraph, due for release on Monday, the ARA accused Mr Bezos of “reluctance” to process requests to withdraw and transfer responsibility for the “systematic” unpaid use of music on the platform to its users.
“We have closely followed the growing controversy surrounding the hosting and delivery of unlicensed music on Twitch,” the letter said. “As Twitch uses music to expand its audience and shape its brand, the company owes more to the creators than the willful blindness and vague platitudes you offer.”