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Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Eminem's publishing company Eight Mile Style sues Meta over 'rampant' unauthorized use of rapper's music
Eminem has sued Meta over claims that the social media giant has distributed the rapper's music without the proper license to do so. Eight Mile Style, the company that own's Eminem's most popular songs, has filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Michigan accusing the Mark Zuckerberg company of storing, reproducing and distributing the Detroit rapper's music without proper licensing. The lawsuit is seeking at least $109 million as well as a court order to halt several forms of alleged copyright infringement, the Los Angeles Times reported. According to the complaint, Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, created and stored copies of the music on its servers for their 'billions of users'. The lawsuit claimed that the company's music library holds 243 songs controlled by Eight Mile Style for users to utilize. 'On information and belief, despite their not being licensed, the recordings of the Eight Mile Compositions have been reproduced and synchronized with visual content on Meta's platforms across millions of videos, which have been viewed billions of times,' the complaint said. The lawsuit stated that its main complaint regarded the reproduction and storage of the music in its own music library and encouraging users to utilize the music without licensing. It is alleged that the company knowingly reproduced and distributed the music after a failed negotiation with Eight Mile Style for licensing as part of its 2020 license agreement with Audiam, a digital music royalty collection firm. 'Nonetheless, Meta has reaped the financial benefits of having the Eight Mile Compositions available to its users as part of their online services,' the complaint stated. It furthers that Meta executives 'actively encouraged rampant infringement' in order to attract more advertising profits, with 'advertising accounting for 97.8 percent of Meta's total revenue as of 2023.' While the company began removing some of Eminem's music after the lack of license was brought to their attention, the lawsuit further claimed that karaoke and instrumental versions, as well as some original versions, of the rapper's songs remain on the platform. 'Meta's years-long and ongoing infringement of the Eight Mile Compositions is another case of a trillion [with a T] dollar company exploiting the creative efforts of musical artists for the obscene monetary benefit of its executives and shareholders without a license and without regard to the rights of the owners of the intellectual property,' the complaint stated. Meta, however, said in a statement to the LA Times that it has licenses with thousands of partners globally and 'extensive' global licensing programs for music on its social media platforms. 'Meta had been negotiating in good faith with Eight Mile Style, but rather than continue those discussions, Eight Mile Style chose to sue,' the statement said. The company also previously sued Facebook in 2013 and alleged that the platform used the rapper's song 'Under the Influence' for an advertisement without consent, the LA Times reported. Eight Mile Style is asking for $150,000 per song, per platform, according to the complaint. The company has requested a jury trial.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Eminem About to Cost Meta Millions? His New Lawsuit Could Change the Game
Eminem is turning up the volume... in the courtroom. The rap icon and his production company, Eight Mile Style, have filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., alleging the tech giant unlawfully distributed his music across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The Wrap reported that the lawsuit, filed May 30 in Michigan, accuses Meta of 'knowing, rampant infringement' by allowing millions of users to remix and reuse Eminem's copyrighted songs — including 'Lose Yourself' — without securing valid licenses. Using Meta's Reels Remix and Original Audio tools, user-generated content featuring Eminem's music has reportedly been streamed billions of times. The damages sought could exceed $1 million, with statutory damages requested at up to $150,000 per song, per platform. The suit further alleges that Meta tried to obtain licensing through the digital royalty platform Audiam. However, Eight Mile Style claims that Audiam didn't have the authority to grant those rights in the first place. What's more, the suit claims Meta encouraged this unlicensed use despite knowing it lacked the proper permissions, which potentially strips the company of protection under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's (DMCA) safe harbor clause. Even after removing some content, such as 'Lose Yourself,' the complaint states that Meta continues to host unauthorized covers and instrumentals. Eminem's legal team is pushing for not only financial compensation, including actual damages and lost profits, but also a permanent injunction to prevent further unauthorized use. A jury trial has been requested. Meta has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit. But the outcome could have major implications for music licensing in the age of social media, especially when user-generated content and algorithm-driven virality collide with copyright law. Eminem's lawsuit isn't just about one artist defending his catalog. It underscores a growing battle over how music is used, shared, and monetized in the age of user-generated content. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook rely heavily on background music to fuel engagement, especially through short-form video tools like Reels. But as artists and rights holders push back, this case could signal a turning point. If courts side with Eminem, it could force tech companies to overhaul how they obtain licenses and share revenue, especially for high-profile tracks. It also raises serious questions about the limits of the DMCA's safe harbor protections when platforms knowingly host and promote unlicensed content. In short, this lawsuit could reshape how artists protect their work and how platforms profit from Eminem About to Cost Meta Millions? His New Lawsuit Could Change the Game first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2025
