Viral Song by 11-Year-Old Sparks Multiple Copyright Lawsuits Against Small Businesses

The viral song "Khatbam" by 11-year-old Nir Krigel, released during the conflict with Iran, has become the center of several copyright infringement lawsuits targeting small business owners. One fitness trainer from Givatayim faced a lawsuit demanding 100,000 shekels after using the song to promote his business. The trainer described the claim as devastating, stating, "This amount could actually cause me to collapse. I am not a criminal or a pirate, just a small business owner trying to survive in Israel." He offered to compensate Krigel with 3,000 shekels after removing the post, but the offer was rejected, and a 25,000-shekel demand was made instead. Upon refusal, the large lawsuit was filed and will be heard in court. His lawyer, Guy Hershkovitz, called the claim excessive and unjustified.

Other small business owners reported similar experiences. Alon Shtoyar, a studio owner, received a surprising email from Krigel after using a line from the song in a post praising one of their teachers, despite no music being played. He was threatened with a 100,000-shekel lawsuit for a post with only 600 views. A social media manager was sued for 50,000 shekels after posting an AI-generated video with 300 views that included the song.

Krige's attorney, Ariel Dubinsky, emphasized that the copyrights belong to the young creator and were violated without permission. He noted the significant investment in producing and distributing the original work and that attempts to resolve the matter amicably failed, leaving court action as the only option. Dubinsky stressed that copyright laws protect all creators equally, regardless of age or fame, and commercial use requires authorization.

Avir Kara, co-founder of the self-employed organization "I Shulman," called on courts to reject such lawsuits, accusing some lawyers of abusing the legal system for extortion. He urged public criticism and legislative changes to impose heavy costs on serial plaintiffs and their attorneys, warning that the current situation harms small businesses unfairly. Kara suggested addressing copyright issues with platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which allow free use of music libraries, rather than targeting innocent small business owners.