The Performing Right Society (PRS) has commenced legal action against Valve Corporation in respect of its use of PRS members’ music on Steam without permission.
Valve Corporation operates the PC gaming download store, Steam, which is primarily used to buy, download, and play video games. The platform also offers software and other digital content - including video game soundtracks - which can be purchased by users.
Video game soundtracks offered by Steam featuring PRS members include titles such as EA SPORTS FC, Forza Horizon and Grand Theft Auto. Since launching in 2003, Valve Corporation has never obtained a license for its use of the rights managed by PRS on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers.
After having sought to license them for years without appropriate engagement from Valve Corporation, PRS issued legal proceedings against Valve on 4 March 2026.
PRS alleges that many game titles that incorporate PRS members’ musical works are made available on Steam, in series including Forza Horizon, FIFA/EA FC, and GTA. By making PRS members’ musical works available for streaming and/or download on Steam in the UK, Valve is communicating these works to the public without a licence.
Such use infringes PRS’s rights in these works under s20 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Any game titles made available on Steam in the UK which incorporate PRS repertoire works will require a licence.