UK music rights body sues Valve over unlicensed music on Steam

The Performing Right Society (PRS for Music) has officially commenced legal proceedings against Valve, accusing the company of using its members' musical works on Steam without the proper licensing.

According to PRS, music is central to the gaming experience, turning play into "emotional, immersive experiences" – yet Valve has "never obtained a licence for its use of the rights managed by PRS on behalf of its members," which include songwriters, composers, and music publishers.

The organization says Steam hosts many titles featuring its members' works, pointing to major franchises such as Forza Horizon, FIFA/EA FC, and GTA as examples.

PRS had reportedly been trying to resolve the licensing dispute through direct negotiations for years, but says it never received adequate engagement from Valve. That prompted the organization to file proceedings under Section 20 of the UK's Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988.

Under that law, any game using works from the PRS catalogue is required to hold an appropriate licence.

"The litigation will progress unless Valve Corporation engages positively with discussions and takes the necessary license to cover the use of PRS repertoire, both retrospectively and moving forwards," PRS said in a press statement.

Dan Gopal, chief commercial officer at PRS for Music, commented:

"Our members create music that enhances experiences and PRS exists to protect the value of their work with integrity, transparency, and fairness. Legal proceedings are not a step we take lightly, but when a business's actions undermine those principles, we have a duty to act.

"Great video games rely on great soundtracks, and the songwriters and creators behind them deserve to have their contribution recognised and fairly valued."

This isn't Valve's only legal headache right now. Last week, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a separate lawsuit against the company, alleging that loot box mechanics in Counter-Strike 2, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2 unlawfully encourage minors to gamble.