Marshall Mathers, the real name of rapper Eminem, is suing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for $100 million. But why?
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The lawsuit was filed by Eight Mile Style, Eminem’s production company, which initiated legal action against Meta for “unauthorized storage, reproduction, and exploitation” of the artist’s work across multiple platforms.
The documents state that features like Original Audio and Reels “enable and encourage users to steal” Eminem’s music “without proper attribution or licensing.”
If you use any of Meta’s social media platforms, such as Instagram or Facebook, you’ve likely seen a video using one of Eminem’s most famous tracks, like The Real Slim Shady, Forgot about Dre, or My Name Is.
Because of this, Eight Mile Style is seeking “a reduction in the value of copyright due to the defendants’ theft, lost profits, and profits earned by the defendants as a result of the infringement.”
Alternatively, Mathers’ team is also seeking the maximum statutory compensation for 243 songs. Since each track is worth $150,000, the total could reach an impressive $109.3 million.
Now, Meta has issued a statement to PEOPLE magazine regarding the case. “Meta holds licenses with thousands of partners around the world and operates an extensive global music licensing program across its platforms.”
“Meta was negotiating in good faith with Eight Mile Style, but instead of continuing discussions, Eight Mile Style chose to sue,” the company claimed.
Apparently, the license signed by Meta in 2020 with Audiam, a digital music royalty collection company, did not include Eminem’s songs.
Eight Mile Style’s lawsuit alleges that although some songs were removed following a previous complaint, Meta “reproduced and stored unauthorized and unlicensed copies.”
As a result, Eminem’s production company emphasized that his songs “are among the most valuable in the world, and Eight Mile Style is highly protective of these iconic tracks.”
Photo and video: Creative Commons / Instagram @zuck. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
