Spotify Files Landmark $13 Trillion Lawsuit Against Shadow Library Search Engine
In a legal move that has sent shockwaves through the music and tech industries, streaming giant Spotify, alongside Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment, has filed a lawsuit seeking approximately $13 trillion in damages against Anna's Archive. The open-source search engine, which indexes so-called "shadow libraries," is accused of facilitating the mass scraping of proprietary data.
The lawsuit, initially filed in a New York district court on December 26, 2025, and unsealed on January 16, 2026, alleges that Anna's Archive systematically scraped 256 million rows of track metadata and links to 86 million audio files. The plaintiffs claim this data represents "99.6% of all listens on Spotify" and constitutes a "brazen theft of millions of files containing nearly all of the world's commercial sound recordings."
Central to the plaintiffs' argument is the claim that the platform's operators are "a group of internet pirates with no regard for the law," despite Anna's Archive not directly hosting copyrighted files. The service operates by aggregating and indexing links to content hosted on third-party sites, a model its defenders argue is akin to a search engine. The defendants have previously denied allegations of theft and piracy, stating they merely provide a cataloging service for publicly available information.
The astronomical $13 trillion figure is derived from statutory copyright damages. U.S. law allows for claims of up to $150,000 per infringed work. With 86 million files cited in the suit, the potential maximum damages reach the unprecedented sum. Legal experts note that while such a figure is largely symbolic—exceeding the GDP of many nations—it underscores the scale of the alleged infringement and the industry's intent to pursue maximum penalties.
Judge Jed S. Rakoff has issued a preliminary injunction requiring domain registries and hosting providers to disable access to sites operating under the Anna's Archive name. The order represents a significant early victory for the music labels, effectively seeking to dismantle the platform's operational infrastructure while the case proceeds.
This lawsuit is seen as a direct escalation in the long-running battle between copyright holders and platforms that enable access to unlicensed content. It follows increased pressure from the music industry on streaming platforms to curb royalty dilution and combat piracy. The outcome could set a major precedent for the liability of indexing services and the valuation of digital music catalogs in infringement cases.
Industry Reactions:
"This isn't just about one website; it's a line in the sand for the entire digital ecosystem," said Marcus Thorne, a copyright attorney at Sterling & Grove. "The scale of the alleged infringement is unprecedented, and the industry is clearly signaling it will use every legal tool available."
"$13 trillion? That's a fantasy number meant for headlines, not a courtroom," argued Lena Kovac, a digital rights activist and co-founder of the Open Access Collective. "It criminalizes the very idea of searching the web. Anna's Archive is a library card catalog, not a library. This suit is a dangerous overreach that threatens legitimate research and archival work."
"As an independent artist, my livelihood depends on streaming royalties," shared David Chen, a singer-songwriter. "When platforms like this divert listens, they're not just stealing from corporations—they're taking food off the tables of creators. The amount is eye-watering, but the message needs to be clear: this cannot be tolerated."
"Absolute nonsense. This is the dying gasp of an old business model," fired back Jax Miller, a tech commentator known for his provocative views. "The labels and Spotify are terrified because services like Anna's Archive expose how bloated and restrictive their licensing empires are. They're suing a search engine because they can't compete with free access. It's pathetic and desperate."