A US federal court has ordered Triller Group Inc. to pay music licensing body Merlin more than $3.2 million after failing to respond to a lawsuit over unpaid fees. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas of the Southern District of New York issued the default judgment on 9 July after Triller did not oppose Merlin's motion, adding to a lengthening list of legal and financial troubles for the beleaguered social video platform.

The judgment comprises $2,550,000 in the original claim, $667,636.36 in pre-judgment interest, and $717.05 in costs, plus post-judgment interest still to accrue. Merlin, which represents independent labels and distributors, had alleged Triller breached a 2020 licensing deal's "most favoured nation" clause by giving another company, reportedly Sony Music, better rates without compensating Merlin accordingly. The case follows a string of setbacks for Triller, including lawsuits from Universal Music Group and a Yorkville Advisors-controlled hedge fund, a 2024 SEC filing disclosing over $23 million in unpaid licensing fees, a Nasdaq trading suspension later overturned, a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, and a reported $174.5 million net loss for 2025.