Drew Barrymore is facing a lawsuit for using unlicensed music in an Instagram post that promoted her cosmetics brand, FLOWER Beauty. The German music company INSTNCT claims that Barrymore included the track ‘You Make Me Happy’ by My Sun And Stars in a Reel without obtaining the necessary permissions.
This lawsuit highlights a growing trend of brands being sued for including unlicensed music in social media content. The post in question, which is still viewable, allegedly synchronized the music with an advertisement for FLOWER Beauty, yet the defendants, including Barrymore and her business partner Maesa, never secured a license to use the track.
INSTNCT asserts that it holds all rights to the song, co-written by Emma Patterson and Adam Specter. While platforms like Instagram have licenses covering user-generated content, they do not extend to brand promotional posts.
Barrymore launched FLOWER Beauty in 2013 and frequently showcased its products through various media channels, including ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’. However, the brand was discontinued last year following Maesa’s decision to exit the color cosmetics market. Despite the closure, this legal issue indicates that the end of their partnership may not be as smooth as anticipated, with INSTNCT seeking damages for copyright infringement against all parties involved.