A judge has authorized Ariana Grande to subpoena Instagram, TikTok, and PayPal in an effort to identify individuals allegedly responsible for leaking her music. The case currently names no specific defendants, instead listing them as John Doe 1 and John Does 2 through 100, a placeholder approach common in litigation targeting anonymous online infringers.
The ruling allows Grande’s legal team to compel the three platforms to turn over identifying information tied to accounts suspected of distributing or profiting from unreleased material. The move underscores the ongoing challenge labels and artists face in tracking down leakers who operate through pseudonymous social media and payment accounts.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.