Eminem’s music publisher has taken Meta to court, claiming the tech company improperly used the rapper’s tracks across its platforms without securing proper licensing.
Ferndale-based Eight Mile Style filed the copyright infringement lawsuit Friday in Detroit federal court, accusing Meta of distributing Eminem songs in its music libraries for public use in posts and videos, Detroit Free Press reports. The suit, which doesn’t list Em as a direct party, references the unauthorized use of 243 Eminem compositions, including popular tracks like “‘Till I Collapse” and “Lose Yourself.”
The lawsuit states that despite earlier requests to take down Eminem’s music, instrumental and karaoke versions continue to be available and have appeared in millions of videos watched billions of times. While Eminem himself isn’t directly involved, Eight Mile Style contends Meta “actively encourages” users to include the songs by making them available in curated sections like “For You” and “Trending.”
The company claims Meta gained access to the tracks through a 2020 agreement with digital rights firm Audiam, which Eight Mile Style says didn’t have permission to license the music. The rapper’s music has been featured “across millions of videos, which have been viewed billions of times,” the lawsuit states.
Eight Mile Style is seeking financial damages based on Meta’s advertising revenue or statutory copyright damages, and wants a permanent injunction preventing future use of Eminem’s music.
“Meta’s years-long and ongoing infringement … is another case of a trillion-dollar company exploiting the creative efforts of musical artists,” the suit declares.
Eight Mile Style has a track record of copyright battles, including previous conflicts with Apple, Spotify, and a resolved 2013 lawsuit against Facebook. Meta has chosen not to comment on the current case.
Earlier this month, a man who broke into Eminem’s Michigan home twice has been found guilty of first-degree home invasion and aggravated stalking. The jury convicted Matthew David Hughes following his second trespassing incident in August.
