MusixMatch threatens navidrome-musixmatch-plugin with legal actions
Music lyrics provider Musixmatch has sent a cease and desist notice to the creator of a plugin that integrates its services with the Navidrome music server.
The music platform claims the plugin accesses its lyrics through unauthorized private endpoints and website scraping, violating its Terms of Service and infringing on copyrighted works.
Developer's Response
Plugin creator Myzel394 disputed Musixmatch's claims, stating the code only accesses publicly available data that any unauthenticated user can reach. "The plugin uses publicly available data that can be accessed by unauthenticated users, and falls back to requesting data from the website itself, only if the end user told it to do so," the developer explained.
If Musixmatch does not want this data to be available publicly, they should close these APIs, not ask third-parties to stop using them.
Legal Standoff
The developer plans to counter any takedown requests, arguing the plugin doesn't breach any laws. Musixmatch has threatened to involve its legal team if demands aren't met by November 26, 2026, potentially issuing takedown notices to platforms hosting the project.
The plugin will remain available on both GitHub and a Forgejo mirror at git.nerdvpn.de, which the developer says was created as an alternative source, not to circumvent potential takedowns. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between API providers and developers who create third-party integrations using publicly accessible data without formal licensing agreements.
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