LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A California consumer is suing the owners of a music streaming service, alleging it induced people to subscribe based on a false promise.
Justin Baker-Rhett, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class action lawsuit April 18 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California San Francisco Division against S. Carter Enterprises LLC and Kanye West, together doing business as Tidal, alleging fraudulent inducement, unjust enrichment, and violations of California's Business & Professions Code.
Tidal, a music streaming service purchased by Shawn "Jay Z" Carter and partially owned by West, tripled its subscribers when West promised to release his new album, "The Life of Pablo," exclusively on Tidal, the suit states.
However, a month and a half after the album's initial release on Tidal, the complaint says, West made the album available through its competitors, Apple Music and Spotify, and began selling the album through his own marketplace. As a result, new Tidal subscribers were fraudulently induced into handing over their private data and credit card information, which was required when signing up for Tidal, the lawsuit says.
Baker-Rhett and others in the class seek a jury trial, declaratory and injunctive relief, actual and punitive damages, restitution, interests, attorney fees and expenses. They are represented by attorneys Todd M. Logan and Jay Edelson of Edelson PC in San Francisco and Chicago.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California San Francisco Division Case number 4:16-CV-02013-KAW