On 4th March 2026, the Performing Right Society (PRS for Music) have officially issued legal proceedings against Valve Corporation. PRS has accused Valve of copyright infringement, which is related to music used in video games and sold through the storefront. According to the legal claim, Valve allegedly allowed games containing music from PRS-represented composers to be downloaded or streamed through Steam without securing the necessary UK licensing agreement for those works.
The lawsuit also specifically references the games that feature licensed music, including major titles such as - Forza Horizon, EA Sports FC, and the Grand Theft Auto (GTA). PRS argues that whenever a game containing its members' music is downloaded through Steam, the platform is effectively distributing that music and it must therefore hold a license from PRS.
However, Valve has allegedly never obtained such a license for the Steam platform since its launch in 2003. PRS for Music represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers, managing the rights for more than 175,000 members and millions of musical works. The organization collects royalties whenever their music is performed publicly, streamed, broadcast, or distributed.
According to PRS, game developers and publishers typically obtain "synchronization licenses" when they include the music in their games. However, PRS argues that these sync licenses only cover the inclusion of the music in the game itself; not the act of distributing that music through online downloads.
That's why when a game is downloaded on Steam, PRS says the music is being "communicated to the public" or "it is made available to the public," which is a separate copyright right under UK law. PRS also claims that it has attempted to negotiate licensing arrangements with Valve for many years but has not received any adequate engagement from the company.
Valve's Response In This Situation:
As of the latest reports, Valve Corporation has not publicly released a detailed response addressing this full legal matter from PRS. However, industry observers believe that Valve's defense will likely revolve around the traditional structure of game licensing agreements itself.
In most cases, game publishers and developers secure music rights themselves when producing a game. However, if PRS successfully proves that online stores must obtain a separate music licenses, it could affect many other platforms and marketplaces, which are involved in digital game distribution, including console stores and PC storefronts. This could become a major problem for them.
This case also raises questions about how the music is properly licensed in video games, because modern AAA titles often include dozens of licensed songs, radio stations, and curated soundtracks. Games like Grand Theft Auto and Forza Horizon are known for their extensive music libraries, which feature tracks from well-known artists.
Anyways, what are your thoughts on this legal matter between PRS for Music and Valve Corporation? Do you think there should be a separate copyright right for music licensing for platforms and marketplaces? Let me know all your answers in the comments, where you can also provide the latest news so I can make a breakdown of it.