Warner Music Group and cookie chain Crumbl have agreed to settle their copyright infringement lawsuit, according to a joint court filing Friday, May 22.
The parties informed a Utah federal court that they “have reached an agreement in principle and are in the process of finalizing a settlement agreement between them.”
According to the latest filing, the parties anticipate a resolution on or before June 15, 2026.
The filing requested the court pause all proceedings “pending completion of the Parties’ settlement agreement.” The court granted the stay on Tuesday, May 26.
If the agreement is not finalized, the parties will file a joint status report on or before June 19, 2026, “or as otherwise ordered by the Court,” the filing stated.
Financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
The case began in April 2025, when WMG sued Crumbl, alleging it “achieved its success by infringing Plaintiffs’ copyrighted sound recordings and musical compositions on a massive scale in promotional content posted on social media platforms.”
Filed April 22, 2025, the complaint alleges Crumbl used at least 159 WMG recordings and compositions in promotional videos on TikTok and Instagram, where the company has 9.8 million and 6.1 million followers, respectively.
The recordings and compositions include work by artists and songwriters such as Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande and Beyoncé.
The complaint identified Crumbl’s social media presence as a vital part of its marketing strategy, noting that the videos “frequently feature unauthorized use of Plaintiffs’ sound recordings and musical compositions—usually featuring chart-topping and award-winning artists—as a principal and indispensable element of the Crumbl Videos.”
“Indeed, there is typically no speaking or sound other than the music integrated into the video,” the complaint added.
The music company sought up to $150,000 in statutory damages per infringed work, which could total up to $23.85 million total if the court imposed the maximum penalty for each of the 159 works cited.
WMG also sought a permanent court order barring Crumbl from further infringement.
“Defendants have misappropriated at least 159 of the most popular and valuable sound recordings and musical compositions in the market, using those creative works to build Defendants’ brand profile and drive massive sales to Defendants without any compensation to Plaintiffs,” the complaint stated.
“Defendants not only failed to pay for the use of the Plaintiffs’ Musical Works, but by including these works in their promotional materials without Plaintiffs’ consent, Defendants deprived Plaintiffs, their recording artists, and their songwriters of the ability to control how and where their musical works are used.”
Warner Music Group’s complaint quoted a Wall Street Journal interview in which Crumbl co-founder and CEO Jason McGowan stated: “[Crumbl’s] strategy right from the beginning was social media.”
The complaint alleges Crumbl’s copyright infringement was “clearly willful,” with WMG having sent Crumbl a cease-and-desist letter in August 2023 that was ignored as the company continued using Plaintiffs’ work in its videos.
“Months after receiving the cease-and-desist letter, Crumbl not only continued to exploit many of the infringing Crumbl Videos, but also posted new infringing Crumbl Videos,” the complaint stated.
Citing a January 2024 TikTok video, the lawsuit noted that Crumbl itself said: “We were gonna make a funny video to promote Mystery Cookie, but legal said we can’t use any trending audios.” WMG‘s complaint called this an admission that demonstrated the company’s “willfulness.”
The complaint also argues Crumbl “is not unfamiliar with intellectual property laws and enforces its own intellectual property rights by filing lawsuits against companies that allegedly infringe Crumbl’s intellectual property.”
“Crumbl is aware of the legal action initiated by Warner Music Group and is actively reviewing the matter,” Crumbl had said in a statement. “[We respect] the rights of artists and creators and will respond appropriately through the legal process.”
Warner Music Group has also sued DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and PacSun, alleging the use of more than 200 and 290 works, respectively, on TikTok and Instagram.
WMG is not the only major record to file a lawsuit over online copyright infringement.
In April, Universal Music Group and Concord Music Group sued Quince, calling its TikTok use of recordings “rampant and brazen infringement.” Sony Music Entertainment has brought similar claims against Marriott Hotels, the University of Southern California and DSW, with some cases already settled, including Marriott in October 2024 and USC in March 2026.
The plaintiffs were represented by Sidley Austin and Workman Nydegger. Crumbl was represented by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
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