Michelle Phan Sued — EDM Calvin Harris Deadmau5

Skip navigation!

michelle-phan-embed

Photo: Via @michellephan.

Update: Michelle Phan's legal team has issued the following statement. "Ultra’s lawsuit against Michelle Phan lacks any merit. Ultra agreed to allow Michelle to use the music and Michelle intends to fight this lawsuit and bring her own claims against Ultra.
Michelle's intention has always been to promote other artists, creating a platform for their work to be showcased to an international audience. Kaskade, whose music has been featured in Michelle's videos, has publicly defended Michelle against Ultra's claims and acknowledges the success he's gained from her support."

We love Michelle Phan's totally addictive — and extremely helpful — YouTube makeup tutorials. We're equally impressed with how Phan managed to turn her love of beauty products into a full-time career with her own cosmetics line and endorsement deals. You know who's not so fond of Phan, though? Major EDM artists who release music through Ultra Records.

AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

Michelle was recently hit with a massive lawsuit. The record label, which counts Calvin Harris, Kaskade, David Guetta, and Deadmau5 among its biggest names, is suing the beauty vlogger for copyright infringement. The complaint claims that Phan frequently uses its artists' songs without obtaining a license to do so, and that she's profiting from the videos.

Ultra doesn't just want some back-end residuals, either. Per Reuters, it wants "maximum statutory damages of $150,000 for each infringed work or unspecified damages to be determined." Phan also has to stop using the label's music immediately.

Ultra Records reportedly alerted Michelle to the fact that she needed a license to continue using the songs, but she never got one. The videos have been viewed over 150 million times, which translates to major YouTube ad revenue. Phan has yet to respond directly to the suit, but she did post this tweet thanking followers for their support.

Thanks for all the love and support :) I've been through tougher times...and I know there is always a silver lining after a storm. IRLY ALL!
— .｡Michelle Phan.｡ (@MichellePhan) July 19, 2014

Fans were quick to back her up.

@MichellePhan the music is extra. And even one their artist thanks you and say you got them more exposure than the label did which is funny.
— Arielle Hernandez (@MissArieBabyNyc) July 19, 2014

@MichellePhan you got the support of everyone behind you!
— Mike Ross (@ThatMikeRossGuy) July 19, 2014

@MichellePhan FIGHT. You got this.
— Mark Julio (マークマン) (@MarkMan23) July 19, 2014

Here's hoping Ultra Records and Michelle Phan can work through this bad romance with minimal mascara-stained tears on both sides. (TMZ)

More from News

Kokomo City Reminds Us That Trans People Everywhere Must B...

In a world where the trans experience is too often denied, discriminated against, and criminalized, it’s more important than ever to intentionally highli

by Ineye Komonibo

Will Cassie’s Lawsuit Against Diddy Signal Hip-Hop’s Long Overdue...

Earlier this year, in an interview with The Cut, Cassie explained that she’s living on her own terms now. “Every decision is mine, every movement is mi

by Njera Perkins

Angelica Ross Tells Her Own American Horror Story Of Being Black ...

In the past week, celebrated actress Angelica Ross (POSE, American Horror Story) dropped many bombshells, ranging from sharing an incident in which her co-

The Allegations Against Lizzo Are Distressing — But Never An Excu...

If you had to think of a current artist who most embodies self acceptance and self love, few seem more befitting than Lizzo. Since 2016, she’s been the p

by Banseka Kayembe

Why Prince Harry Is (Still) Wrong About Unconscious Bias

By now, you would have undoubtedly seen or heard about at least one of Prince Harry’s interviews discussing his new memoir, Spare. Since its release on T

by Maxine Harrison

Megan Thee Stallion Isn’t The One On Trial

“I wish he would have just killed me, if I knew I would have to go through this torture,” rapper Megan Thee Stallion said last week during an emotional

Russian Court Denies Brittney Griner’s Appeal, Upholds 9-Ye...

UPDATE: On Tuesday (Oct 25), a Russian court rejected WNBA star Brittney Griner’s appeal of her nine-year prison sentence for drug charges. After the

by Ineye Komonibo

Say Goodbye To Macy Gray — She Outed Herself As A TERF

On July 4, a day when selective freedom was celebrated in America, it was only fitting that Macy Gray chose to go on known bigot Piers Morgan’s show Unce

by Wisdom Iheanyichukwu

White Supremacy Is To Blame For The Buffalo Massacre. That’s It.

A clip of CNN reporter Victor Blackwell breaking down in tears live on air while talking about last weekend’s horrific massacre of 10 Black people in a B

by Kathleen Newman-B...

Megan Thee Stallion’s Bombshell New Interview Reveals Devastating...

In July 2020, Megan thee Stallion was involved in an intense police stop after attending a celebrity pool party in Los Angeles, leading to the shocking rev

by Ineye Komonibo

Ari Lennox Shares An Update After Her Amsterdam Arrest

Updated December 2, 2019: Days after being detained at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, Ari Lennox has resurfaced on social media to give worried frien

by Ineye Komonibo

Two Men Convicted For The 1965 Assassination Of Malcolm X Have Be...

Nearly 60 years after the shocking assassination of civil rights leader Malcolm X, a new development in the investigation into his murder has led to t

by Ineye Komonibo

R29 Original Series

AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT