Latest news with #EightMileStyle
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Eminem publisher sues Meta, claiming unlicensed use of rapper's songs on Facebook, Instagram
Eminem's song publisher has sued the digital giant Meta, claiming the company behind Facebook and Instagram failed to properly secure licensing for music by the Detroit rapper. The lawsuit, filed Friday by Ferndale's Eight Mile Style in Detroit federal court, contends Meta maintains online music libraries with Eminem songs supplied to the public for user posts. Works include hits such as ''Till I Collapse,' which is among the 243 Eminem compositions administered by Eight Mile Style. Friday's filing says previous outreach from Eight Mile Style to Meta prompted the social media company to remove Eminem tracks such as 'Lose Yourself' from its libraries, although karaoke and instrumental versions of that song remain available, according to the suit. The Eminem music has been deployed 'across millions of videos, which have been viewed billions of times,' reads the complaint. Eminem is not a direct party in the suit. The Free Press has reached out to Meta for comment. Eight Mile Style accuses Meta of several forms of copyright infringement. It is seeking yet-to-be determined monetary damages, based on Meta advertising profits, or statutory copyright damages, along with a permanent injunction against the company's use of the Eminem songs. The lawsuit argues that Meta isn't merely allowing posters to include Eminem music in user-generated content — it is 'actively encouraging' them by featuring the songs in its libraries. Eight Mile Style says the Eminem songs are made available for user posts on Facebook, remixes on Instagram Reels and content on the Meta-owned messaging service WhatsApp. Algorithms directly promote the music to users via 'For You' and 'Trending' categories, the suit claims. The lawsuit alleges that Meta accessed the Eminem songs through a 2020 arrangement with the New York digital licensing firm Audiam, which had previously worked with Eight Mile Style. In this situation, the complaint says, Audiam was not authorized by the Ferndale company to enter into an agreement with Meta for the Eminem music. '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,' reads the complaint. Eight Mile Style, which was co-founded by Eminem's early production team the Bass Brothers, oversees Eminem's catalog of songs published between 1995 and 2005, including releases up through the album 'Encore.' The Ferndale company has aggressively guarded against copyright infringement through the years, most notably in the digital sphere, including high-profile litigation with Apple and Spotify. Facebook was named in a 2013 lawsuit by Eight Mile Style, which alleged the social media service simulated the Eminem track 'Under the Influence' in an ad spot. That dispute was settled out of court. The new Meta suit contends that Eminem's compositions 'are some of the most valuable in the world, and Eight Mile Style is very protective of these iconic songs.' Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Eminem publisher sues Meta, claiming unlicensed use of songs on FB, IG
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
An Eminem hit, a metro Detroit Ford dealer, a special Lions truck — and now a lawsuit
The Ferndale publisher that oversees Eminem's song catalog has sued an area Ford dealership, claiming unauthorized use of the rapper's hit 'Lose Yourself' to promote a special-edition Detroit Lions truck. The lawsuit, filed Monday in Detroit federal court by the firm Eight Mile Style, contends that LaFontaine Ford St. Clair did not secure a license for the track, a soundtrack hit from 2002's '8 Mile' that endures as Eminem's signature song. At issue is a 30-second video clip allegedly posted by LaFontaine last fall on social-media platforms — including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok — to promote Ford's limited, Lions-branded F-150. The ad spot, which was still live on Facebook Reels early Monday evening, includes music from 'Lose Yourself' and a caption seemingly referencing the song's lyrics: More: Who are the Super Bowl halftime show 2025 performers? Kendrick Lamar headlines lineup More: Harpos shuts down metal concert after bands in lineup accused of Nazi leanings 'You only get one shot to own a Special Edition Detroit Lions F-150,' the text reads. 'With only 800 produced, you only get one shot to own a Special Edition Detroit Lions 2024 PowerBoost Hybrid F-150.' Eight Mile Style is seeking an injunction against the video clip and damage relief of at least $150,000. 'Neither (p)laintiffs nor Eminem have agreed to be affiliated with or endorse the goods or services of LaFontaine,' the filing reads. LaFontaine's St. Clair location is part of the LaFontaine Automotive Group, one of Michigan's largest vehicle dealership groups. Max Muncey, head of corporate communications for the LaFontaine Automotive Group, said Monday evening an official media response to the lawsuit was forthcoming. Eight Mile Style has famously guarded the Oscar-winning 'Lose Yourself' through the years. The song's most famous commercial use came in 2011, when the song was licensed by Chrysler for a spot featuring Eminem that premiered during the Super Bowl. Six years earlier, Apple reached an out-of-court settlement with the Ferndale publisher after the tech giant used 'Lose Yourself' in an iPod commercial. In 2011, Audi settled with Eight Mile Style following a sound-alike version of the song aired by the automaker in a European promotional spot. In 2017, Eight Mile Style prevailed in a New Zealand court after suing a political party there for a 'Lose Yourself' sound-alike track deployed in a television campaign. Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: An Eminem song, a local Ford dealer, a Lions truck — and now a lawsuit
