PRS for Music has filed a lawsuit against Valve alleging that Steam distributes games containing music from PRS-represented artists without the required UK license. The UK collective management organization claims major franchises like Forza Horizon, FIFA/EA Sports FC, and Grand Theft Auto are made available for download on the platform without proper permission.
The case centers on a distinction in UK music licensing that separates two different rights. Game publishers typically negotiate synchronization licenses to include songs within their games. PRS argues that Steam needs a separate license for the act of distributing those games to UK users.
This isn’t a claim that the games themselves contain pirated music. Publishers like Microsoft, EA, and Rockstar already licensed the tracks for inclusion in their titles. PRS’s position is that the platform hosting and delivering the downloads needs its own distribution license.
PRS for Music licenses music rights on behalf of songwriters, composers, and publishers in the UK. The organization collects royalties when their members’ works are performed publicly or communicated to the public. Under UK copyright law, making content available for download online can trigger separate licensing requirements from the original creation of that content.
Steam operates as a digital storefront and content delivery network. When users purchase and download games, Steam’s servers host and transmit the files. PRS appears to view this role as requiring a platform-level license covering the musical works embedded in those games.
Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox reportedly hold general entertainment licenses from PRS for their digital storefronts. This would mean Valve is the outlier among major gaming platforms operating in the UK market.
The lawsuit also potentially covers promotional materials on Steam store pages. Game trailers and preview clips often feature licensed music and are hosted directly on Steam’s platform for users to view.
PRS typically pushes companies to enter blanket licensing agreements covering their entire catalog. If the organization succeeds, Valve may need to sign a general online distribution license and potentially pay for historic unlicensed distribution. The alternative would be addressing each game’s music licensing individually, which would be impractical at Steam’s scale.
