Limp Bizkit move forward with $200m lawsuit against Universal

Posted On March 20, 2025March 20, 2025

Limp Bizkit is officially moving forward with their $200million lawsuit against Universal after a federal court granted them the go-ahead, rejecting the record label’s motion to dismiss the band’s allegations.

The situation between Universal (UMG) and Limp Bizkit began in October 2024 when the band filed a lawsuit against their label, claiming that UMG had deliberately withheld at least $200m in unpaid royalties. The band alleged that not only had the label kept the money from them but had “designed and implemented royalty software and systems that were deliberately designed to conceal artists’ royalties and keep those profits for itself.”

The suit also claims that UMG told Fred Durst that royalty payments were withheld as the label had spent approximately $43m on the band over the years that they had yet to recoup. However, when the band contacted their old label, Flip Records, they discovered that Flip were receiving millions of dollars due to renewed interest in the band, while Durst and the band had received nothing.

After Limp Bizkit filed the suit to reclaim these losses, UMG filed a countermotion in the hope of getting the case rejected by the court. However, a federal court denied that motion, meaning that the band can now proceed with their suit. 

However, the process and the assessment of the copyright claims depend on whether the band can successfully rescind their contracts with UMG and regain ownership of their copyrights. Back in January, Durst’s first attempt to have their contract voided in court was rejected. But, with this new federal ruling, that debate is now reopened.

It’s a complex case. Not only are Limp Bizkit going up against what they’re claiming to be fraudulent business practices, but the case also requires an analysis of laws in both California and New York to understand their copyright claim and whether their label should release them.

In response to the band’s lawsuit and the claims made within it, UMG said simply that it was “fiction”.

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