1owHYXa

Friday, February 19, 2016
Complaints against Music Industry Majors in the United States
Several complaints have been filed before the Federal Courts in New York and California against Universal Music Group and the other music
industry majors for alleged anti-competitive practices in the context of sales of CDs and Internet music downloads. These complaints have
been consolidated before the Federal Court in New York. The motion to dismiss filed by the defendants was granted by the Federal Court on
October 9, 2008, but this decision was reversed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on January 13, 2010. The defendants filed a motion
for rehearing which was denied. They filed a petition with the US Supreme Court which was rejected on January 10, 2011. The discovery
process is underway.
Complaints against UMG regarding Royalties for Digital Downloads
Since 2011, as has been the case with other music industry majors, several purported class action complaints have been filed against UMG
by recording artists generally seeking additional royalties for on line sales of music downloads and master ringtones. On April 14, 2015, a
global transaction terminating the litigation was entered into. This settlement transaction is expected to be formally approved by the Court in
the first quarter of 2016.
Capitol Records and EMI Music Publishing against MP3tunes
On November 9, 2007, Capitol Record and EMI Music Publishing filed a joint complaint against MP3tunes and its founder, Michael
Robertson, for copyright infringement on the sideload.com and mp3tunes.com websites. The trial was held in March 2014, and, on March 19,
2014, the jury returned a verdict favorable to EMI and Capital Records. It found the defendants liable for knowingly allowing the unauthorized
content on the websites. On March 26, 2014, the jury awarded damages in the amount of USD41 million. On October 30, 2014 the Court
confirmed the verdict but entered judgment in the reduced amount of USD12.2 million. The defendants have appealed against the judgment.
Mireille Porte against Interscope Records, Inc., Stefani Germanotta and Universal Music France
On July 11, 2013, the artist Mireille Porte (AKA “Orlan”) filed a complaint against Interscope Records, Inc., Stefani Germanotta (AKA “Lady
Gaga”) and Universal Music France with the Paris Tribunal of First Instance for the alleged copyright infringement of several of Orlan’s
artistic works.
James Clar against Rihanna Fenty, UMG Recordings, Inc. and Universal Music France
On June 13, 2014, the artist James Clar filed a complaint against Rihanna Fenty, UMG Recordings, Inc. and Universal Music France before
the Paris Tribunal of First Instance (Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris) for the alleged infringement of his work.
Reti Televisive Italiane (RTI) against Dailymotion
Since 2012, several legal actions have been filed by RTI against Dailymotion before the Civil Court of Rome. Similar to claims it has made
against other major online video platforms, RTI is seeking damages for infringement of its neighboring rights (audiovisual production and
broadcasting rights) and unfair competition as well as the removal of the contested content from the Dailymotion platform.
Financial Report and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 Vivendi /102