Eight Mile Style, Eminem's publishing company, takes legal action against Meta due to widespread unauthorized usage of the rapper's songs.
Eminem's Music Publisher Sues Meta Over Copyright Infringement
Rapper Eminem's music publishing company, Eight Mile Style, has taken the tech giant Meta to court, alleging they've distributed Eminem's music unlawfully on their platforms.
According to the lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Michigan, Meta—owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—has stored, reproduced, and distributed Eminem's music without the appropriate license. The lawsuit demands at least $109 million in damages and a court order to cease the alleged copyright infringement.
Eight Mile Style controls Eminem's most popular songs from his early works, spanning the years 1995 to 2005. However, the lawsuit does not specify the exact titles of the affected songs.
The complaint alleges that Meta created and stored copies of Eminem's music on their servers for their billions of users in the Music Libraries of their platforms. Users were reportedly able to attach these songs to their posts without proper authorization.
Eight Mile Style claims that the company's music library holds 243 songs from Eminem's catalog for users to utilize, despite not being licensed. The lawsuit states that these songs have been reproduced and synchronized with visual content on Meta's platforms across millions of videos, which have been viewed billions of times.
The primary issue, according to the lawsuit, revolves around the reproduction and storage of the music in Meta's Music Library and encouraging users to utilize the music without licensing. The complaint alleges that Meta knowingly reproduced and distributed the music after failed negotiations with Eight Mile Style for licensing as part of its 2020 license agreement with Audiam, a digital music royalty collection firm.
Meta, in response, has said that they have licenses with thousands of partners globally and extensive global licensing programs for music on their social media platforms. The company also previously faced a lawsuit from Eight Mile Style in 2013, when they were accused of using Eminem's song 'Under the Influence' for an advertisement without consent[4].
Eight Mile Style is asking for $150,000 for each song used without permission on each platform, totaling over $109 million in damages. The company has requested a jury trial.
Some Background
The songs involved in the lawsuit are from Eminem's early career and consist of his most popular hits. These albums brought Eminem to fame and solidified his status as a groundbreaking rapper[1].
The lawsuit alleges that the infringement occurred through features like Original Audio and Reels Remix, which enabled users to use the songs without permission or proper attribution[2][3].
Sources
[1] VH1. (2021, January 14). The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. VH1. https://www.vh1.com/shows/ enumeration/_/ searches/50-greatest-hip-hop-albums-of-all-time
[2] Alexander, T. (2022, June 21). Eminem’s Music Publishing Company Files $109 Million Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Meta. Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/rap /eminem/eminems-music-publishing-company-files-109 -million-copyright -infringement-lawsuit-against-meta-1240074654/
[3] Tran, M. (2022, June 21). Eminem's Music Publishing Company Sues Meta Over Withheld Royalties. Variety. https://variety.com/2022/music/news/eminem-sues-meta-royalties-audiam-1235365749/
[4] Flaherty, T. (2022, June 21). Eminem's publisher sues Meta: The full version of the lawsuit over alleged unlicensed music usage. LA Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-06-21/eminems-publisher-files-lawsuit-against-meta-over-unauthorized-music-usage-on-facebook-instagram-whatsapp
Note: The lawsuit involves a significant portion of Eminem's early catalog, but the exact titles of the songs are not specified in the available information.
- In addition to the ongoing legal battle, questions about music copyright infringement have arisen in the realm of news, as Eight Mile Style's lawsuit against Meta encompasses not only their flagship social media platforms but also their entertainment offerings like videos and music libraries.
- As the dispute between Eminem's music publishing company and Meta unfolds, it is essential to consider the broader impacts this case could have on the business model of digital media platforms, particularly those dealing with entertainment, celebrities, and music.
- Meanwhile, the entertainment industry closely monitors the court proceedings, as the resolution of this lawsuit may set a precedent for how future copyright issues involving artists like Eminem and their music publishers will be handled in the world of science, technology, and business.
