PRS for Music has initiated legal proceedings against Valve Corporation, the operator of the games distribution service Steam.
According to a statement shared with Billboard U.K., the collection society is alleging that works represented by its members have been made available on the platform without the appropriate license.
PRS alleges that Valve has never obtained a license covering the musical works on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers since Steam launched in 2003. The organization added that it had spent “many years” attempting to negotiate a licensing agreement with the company before issuing legal proceedings in the U.K. on March 4.
Steam is primarily a marketplace where users buy, download and play games, though the platform also sells other digital content, including video game soundtracks. PRS for Music says titles available on the service that feature music written by its members include major franchises such as EA Sports FC, Forza Horizon and Grand Theft Auto.
Developers and publishers in the gaming industry generally secure synchronisation licences allowing music to be embedded within a game. But under U.K. copyright rules, those agreements typically cover only the initial use of the music within the title itself.
When the game is later distributed via download platforms, a separate ‘communication to the public’ right may apply. In the U.K. that right is administered by PRS, meaning platform operators like Valve must obtain their own licence.
In a statement, Dan Gopal, chief commercial officer at PRS for Music, said: “Our members create music that enhances experiences and PRS exists to protect the value of their work with integrity, transparency and fairness. Legal proceedings are not a step we take lightly, but when a business’s actions undermine those principles, we have a duty to act.
“Great video games rely on great soundtracks, and the songwriters and creators behind them deserve to have their contribution recognised and fairly valued.”
PRS for Music said the case will proceed unless Valve Corporation enters into negotiations and agrees to a licence covering both historic and future uses of music written by its members on Steam. Billboard U.K. has approached a representative from Steam for comment.
The case arrives as PRS for Music prepares for a leadership transition. The organisation confirmed last week that its CEO, Andrea Czapary Martin, will step down at the end of 2026 after seven years in the role.
