SAN FRANCISCO — The lead plaintiff in a proposed class action against Spotify USA Inc. has caused some static for the case. But the lawsuit could still rock and roll.

Spotify faces allegations that it charged thousands of users in California for premium accounts—which cost $9.99 a month—that they didn't actually use or want, after being enticed to sign up for a trial. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue the company failed to get users' consent for a paid subscription, in violation of a California statute called the Automatic Renewal Law.

The problem, a federal judge wrote Thursday, is that their lead plaintiff in fact did use the premium service he obtained. And not just for one or two days.