Materia Music sues a video game music DJ over nearly 150 YouTube videos using its artists' music

The complaint

Materia Music, Inc. v. Christopher Davidson p/k/a DJ Cutman, and Does 1 through 10, No. 2:26-cv-03656 (W.D. Wash., Seattle), is a 10-page complaint filed September 28, 2026, ECF No. 1, with a jury demand. Materia describes itself as a Seattle-based independent record label, music publisher, and rights administrator focused on video game music. The complaint describes Davidson as a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania video game music DJ, producer, and record label owner who founded a competing video game music label, and alleges, on information and belief, that he operates and personally posted to two YouTube channels, one under his DJ name and one under the label's name. A minute order on October 6, 2026 reassigned the case to Judge Jamal N Whitehead, and the cause number is now 2:26-cv-03656-JNW.

The works

The complaint lists compositions and sound recordings under six registrations, including PA 2-164-011, which the Copyright Office public catalog lists as the DELTARUNE Chapter 1 Soundtrack, and SR 784-995. The catalog lists Royal Sciences LLC as claimant on both, and the complaint alleges Materia owns one or more exclusive rights in the registered works.

What it alleges

The complaint alleges that between about November 10, 2015 and March 25, 2026 Davidson, potentially with the Doe defendants, created and uploaded videos synchronizing one or more Materia works, listed in Exhibit A, without a synchronization license. It alleges Materia sent YouTube removal requests for each video, YouTube removed them, and Davidson submitted counter-notifications, after which YouTube said it would repost the videos after 10 business days unless a suit was filed. It alleges Davidson conceded to Materia that he lacked the necessary rights but asked YouTube to reinstate the videos anyway.

The claim and relief

The single cause of action pleads copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. §§ 106 and 501 and alleges the infringement was willful. Materia seeks temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief, damages under 17 U.S.C. § 504(b) and (c), costs and attorney's fees under 17 U.S.C. § 505, and impoundment or destruction of the videos under 17 U.S.C. § 503(a)(1)(A).

On the docket

An October 9, 2026 order signed by Judge Whitehead granted the parties' stipulated motion and extended Davidson's deadline to respond to the complaint to November 10, 2026. The docket also shows a joint status report order form entered October 27 and a further stipulated motion filed October 29, 2026.