Judge dismisses lawsuit alleging Spotify allowed fake Drake streams

A federal judge has permanently dismissed a lawsuit alleging that Spotify allowed billions of fraudulent streams of rapper Drake’s music. U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning the claims cannot be refiled in this court.

The plaintiff, Long Beach rapper RBX (legal name Eric Dwayne Collins), had filed an amended complaint following a previous dismissal in June. The lawsuit claimed Spotify turned a “blind eye” to approximately 37 billion illicit streams, alleging that certain accounts were listening to tracks for up to 23 hours per day.

In her 16-page ruling, Judge Staton determined that Collins failed to provide sufficient facts to show that Spotify violated the law or owed him a specific legal duty to protect his royalty earnings. The judge noted that while the plaintiff may have less bargaining power than the streaming giant, their relationship is a “mutually beneficial economic” one rather than one requiring special legal protection against negligence. The court found the allegations regarding selective policy enforcement and fraudulent business practices to be largely conclusory.