Slim Shady is saying nope to Meta, loud and clear. Eminem’s publishing company, Eight Mile Style, has filed a bombshell lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg’s tech empire, accusing Meta of using the rapper’s music without a proper license. The lawsuit, filed in a Michigan federal court, claims that Meta has been storing, reproducing, and distributing the Grammy-winning artist’s music across its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, without permission.
And the price tag? A jaw-dropping $109 million in damages, plus a demand for a court order to halt the alleged copyright violations, according to The Los Angeles Times. The suit alleges that Meta’s internal music library contains 243 Eminem tracks, which users have reportedly synced to videos viewed billions of times.
“Despite not being licensed, the recordings… have been reproduced and synchronized with visual content… across millions of videos,” the complaint states. In other words, Eight Mile Style says Meta is making Marshall Mathers’ music a feature, without ever cutting the check.
According to the filing, Meta was in failed negotiations with digital rights management company Audiam back in 2020, but allegedly continued using Eminem’s catalog anyway. The suit blasts Meta for “reaping financial benefits” and accuses top executives of “actively encouraging rampant infringement” to boost ad revenue, which made up nearly 98% of Meta’s total income in 2023. While Meta has reportedly begun removing some of Eminem’s tracks, the lawsuit claims many, including karaoke, instrumental, and even original versions, are still circulating.
Eight Mile Style Demands Millions Over Music Dispute
In a statement, Meta hit back, saying it has licensing deals with “thousands of partners” and insisted it had been “negotiating in good faith.” But Eight Mile Style wasn’t buying it. Instead, the company is demanding $150,000 per song, per platform, and has requested a jury trial. This isn’t the first clash between Meta and Eminem’s camp. Back in 2013, Facebook was sued for allegedly using “Under the Influence” in a commercial without consent.
Eight Mile Style, co-founded by Eminem’s longtime collaborators the Bass Brothers, holds the rights to the rapper’s music released between 1995 and 2005. While the lawsuit centers on his catalog, Eminem himself is not personally involved in the legal action. Now, with millions on the line and accusations of artistic exploitation flying, it’s clear: Eminem isn’t afraid to throw down in court. The real question is, will Meta be able to clean up this lyrical legal mess before it gets even messier?
