NEW YORK — Warner Music Group asked an Indian court to block Spotify Technology, the world’s largest paid-music-streaming service, from offering songs by its roster of songwriters, including Katy Perry and Led Zeppelin, in the country.
The filing was made with the Bombay High Court, according to a document seen by Bloomberg. Warner said in a statement Monday it asked an Indian court for an injunction.
Bloomberg wasn’t immediately able to verify the lawsuit with the court.
The lawsuit escalates a dispute between the third-largest music group and Spotify, which is said to plan introducing its service in India in the next few weeks. It’s also the latest hurdle in Spotify’s bumpy path to India, one of the Stockholm-based company’s biggest untapped markets.
Spotify hasn’t secured a license to music from Warner Music Group but said in an emailed statement that it plans to use an Indian rule that governs radio stations to offer songs from Warner’s publishing division, Warner/Chappell Music, and would continue to assess its options.
India is potentially a lucrative market. Rival streaming services have already gained a foothold amid the proliferation of high-speed internet there.
