Rs 935.9 crores lawsuit filed by Eminem against Mark Zuckerberg's Meta and it's not just for money

Time of India

2 days ago

Lawsuit Targets Meta's In-App Audio Features
$150,000 Sought Per Track Across Three Platforms
Eminem Seeks Jury Trial and Injunction
Unrelated Leak Case
Rumours About India Concert Remain Unconfirmed
In a major legal development, global rap icon Eminem has initiated a $109 million (Rs 935.9 crores) lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram , and WhatsApp. The lawsuit, filed on May 30, 2025, in Michigan, was brought forward by Eminem's publishing firm, Eight Mile Style , which has accused Meta of copyright infringement involving 243 of the artist's tracks.The legal action specifically calls out Meta's features like 'Original Audio' and 'Reels,' alleging that the tools actively allow users to incorporate Eminem's music into their own video content without obtaining licenses or offering proper attribution. The complaint labels this use as 'unauthorised storage, reproduction and exploitation' of Eminem's catalogue across Meta's platforms.Asper E! News, court documents reveal that Meta initially attempted to license Eminem's music through digital royalty service Audiam. However, after Eight Mile Style declined the request, Meta allegedly continued to use over 200 songs on its audio-enabled features. The lawsuit refers to this conduct as a case of 'rampant' and 'knowing infringement.'Eight Mile Style is pursuing statutory damages of $150,000 per song, per platform—Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This brings the total demand to approximately $109.35 million. The publishing company argues that this infringement has led to both direct financial losses and a devaluation of the copyrights themselves.Meta has not yet issued any public comment in response to the allegations.The lawsuit also seeks a jury trial, along with a permanent injunction preventing Meta from using any of Eminem's music in the future without proper authorisation. In addition to financial compensation, the suit is aimed at preventing what Eight Mile Style describes as an ongoing pattern of unlicensed use.Legal representatives have further asserted that Meta should not be protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's safe harbor provisions, claiming that the tech giant knowingly enabled mass copyright violations.The lawsuit against Meta comes shortly after another legal incident involving Eminem's music. Earlier in the year, Joseph Strange, a former sound engineer at the rapper's studio in Michigan, was indicted on charges of copyright infringement and transporting stolen material across state lines. The FBI revealed that some of Eminem's unreleased music, recorded between 1999 and 2018, was leaked and purchased through crowdfunding in Bitcoin.A spokesperson for Eminem denounced the leaks as harmful to the artist's legacy and stated that all legal means would be employed to protect his intellectual property.Amid the legal proceedings, unverified rumours circulated online about Eminem performing in Mumbai on June 3, 2025. Despite reports and leaked tour schedules hinting at a concert, no official statement was released by the rapper or his team, and no confirmation has surfaced about any event taking place in India.Earlier reports from February had mentioned an extensive world tour including stops in Asia, North America, and Europe. However, details about the India leg appear to have been inaccurate due to lack of official confirmation.