Jamendo (Winamp) Sues Nvidia in the US and Seeks €16M in Belgium
Its subsidiary Jamendo has filed a federal lawsuit in the United States against Nvidia Corporation, challenging the unauthorized use of musical content in the development of artificial intelligences. Concurrently, a Belgian court has affirmed its jurisdiction to handle a commercial claim of 16 million euros.
US Federal Lawsuit for Copyright Infringement
Jamendo, a subsidiary of Winamp Group, filed a lawsuit on June 22, 2026, in a US federal court against Nvidia Corporation. The complaint alleges unauthorized use of Jamendo-related content in the development and operation of artificial intelligence technologies.
The lawsuit addresses copyright violations, contractual breaches, and unjust enrichment, along with other remedies available under US law. Under US copyright law, statutory damages can reach $30,000 per infringed work, or up to $150,000 per work in the case of willful infringement.
Belgian Court Affirms Jurisdiction and a €16 Million Claim
On June 11, 2026, the Ghent Commercial Court confirmed its jurisdiction to hear the proceedings initiated by Jamendo against Nvidia Technologies Belgium. This involves a commercial claim of approximately 16 million euros.
The claim arises from invoices issued by Jamendo for the unauthorized use of musical content (over 55,000 works) and related data exploited by the subsidiary. The court dismissed procedural objections raised by Nvidia Technologies Belgium and set a schedule for further proceedings. The parties will exchange briefs between late 2026 and early 2027, with oral arguments scheduled for June 24, 2027.
Broader Issues Surrounding Artificial Intelligence and Artist Compensation
Jamendo believes that the issues raised by these proceedings go beyond its own commercial interests and pertain to broader challenges associated with the use of protectable works in the training and development of generative artificial intelligence systems.
Alexandre Saboundjian, CEO of Winamp Group, stated: 'These actions reflect our commitment to protecting the rights of Jamendo and the artists who entrust us with the commercialization of their works. As artificial intelligence transforms the music industry, we believe it is essential that creators and rights holders are properly recognized, compensated, and protected.'
