section_path: Drake's response/Legal actions
section_name: Legal actions
paragraph_text: Legal actions
  
  On November 25, 2024, Drake filed a petition against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify under New York law claiming that they had conspired to artificially inflate the popularity of "Not Like Us" to "deceive consumers into believing the song was more popular than it was in reality". His attorneys accused UMG of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and using deceptive business practices and false advertising. UMG stated in response that the allegations were "offensive and untrue", that they would "never do anything to undermine" any artist signed to the label, and that "fans choose the music they want to hear". Drake later filed a second petition against UMG under Texas law claiming defamation by failing to halt the release of a song "falsely accusing him of being a sex offender." He also accused UMG of "funneling payments" to iHeartRadio as part of a " pay-to-play scheme" to promote "Not Like Us" on the radio. On January 15, 2025, Drake filed a lawsuit against UMG; Lamar was not included as a defendant.
  
  On November 25, 2024, Drake filed a petition against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify under New York law claiming that they had conspired to artificially inflate the popularity of "Not Like Us" to "deceive consumers into believing the song was more popular than it was in reality". His attorneys accused UMG of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and using deceptive business practices and false advertising. UMG stated in response that the allegations were "offensive and untrue", that they would "never do anything to undermine" any artist signed to the label, and that "fans choose the music they want to hear". Drake later filed a second petition against UMG under Texas law claiming defamation by failing to halt the release of a song "falsely accusing him of being a sex offender." He also accused UMG of "funneling payments" to iHeartRadio as part of a " pay-to-play scheme" to promote "Not Like Us" on the radio. On January 15, 2025, Drake filed a lawsuit against UMG; Lamar was not included as a defendant.