Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Technology
Maya Yang

Spotify used branding of US Black cultural festival without permission, lawsuit says

Oprah Winfrey talks to the cast of The Color Purple at the 2023 Essence Festival of Culture Concert Series in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Oprah Winfrey talks to the cast of The Color Purple at the 2023 Essence Festival of Culture Concert Series in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photograph: Ray Tamarra/Soul B Photos/Shutterstock

Spotify last year hosted an event using the branding of what is arguably the US’s largest Black cultural festival without permission, according to a lawsuit which pits the streaming giant against the organizers of the Essence Festival of Culture.

Attorneys for the festival say their lawsuit represents a stand against the “intentional exploitation of Black culture” and intellectual property by a corporation that can more than afford to pay for permission to use Essence’s branding.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.