Universal Music Group and Warner Chappell have reached a settlement in principle regarding a copyright lawsuit involving Quavo’s 2018 track “Bubble Gum.”
The litigation, initiated by Louisiana-based rapper L.Mont, alleged that the song infringed upon a demo CD handed to the Migos artist during a 2016 New Orleans after-party.
- The parties filed a joint notice in the US District Court for the Central District of California on November 11, requesting the cancellation of upcoming court dates.
- While UMG and Warner Chappell are moving to resolve the dispute, the status of the claims against Quavo personally remains unconfirmed by the current filing.
- The court expects the final settlement to be consummated within forty days, though specific financial terms have not been disclosed.
The legal friction began back in September 2024, when Lamount London—known professionally as L.Mont—filed his complaint. He asserted that after opening for 2 Chainz and Migos at the Saenger Theatre in 2016, he provided his own track titled “Bubblegum” to Quavo.
The core of the dispute rests on the claim that the 2018 release, featured on the album Quavo Huncho, utilized the composition, melody, and arrangement of his earlier work, Music Business Worldwide reported.
The road to this resolution was far from linear. According to Digital Music News, the case faced significant stagnation, with the presiding judge at one point instructing London to justify why the action should not be dismissed for lack of prosecution. This pressure likely accelerated the recent movement, culminating in an amended complaint filed this past September.
The defendants—UMG Recordings, Universal Music-MGB NA, and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing—have now opted to settle rather than proceed through a full trial, a strategic pivot common in high-stakes copyright disputes where the cost of litigation often outweighs the risks of a jury verdict.
This settlement arrives during a period of shifting tides for music copyright litigation. Recent weeks have seen a cluster of high-profile cases either withdrawn or settled, suggesting claims predicated on "demo CD" delivery narratives may be cooling.
| Artist/Track | Status | Outcome/Action |
|---|---|---|
| Quavo – “Bubble Gum” | Settlement in Principle | Resolving claims with UMG/Warner Chappell |
| BTS – “SWIM” | Withdrawn | Plaintiffs dropped lawsuit against HYBE |
| Drake – “Janice STFU” | Withdrawn | Songwriter withdrew claims against UMG |
Despite the agreement, the laws surrounding this track are not entirely clear. The settlement notice explicitly excludes Quavo (Quavious Marshall) as a party to the current resolution. It remains unknown whether the deal includes a release of liability for the artist himself or if he will continue to face the allegations independently.
The absence of public financial terms leaves the industry guessing about the value placed on the alleged infringement. Whether London will receive a formal credit on future licensing or a monetary payout remains a point of ambiguity for observers monitoring the case.
The court documents remain silent on the finality of the claims against Marshall, leaving the door slightly ajar for further legal developments.
