Global rap icon Eminem has launched a high-stakes legal battle against tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his company Meta, accusing the social media giant of copyright infringement involving 243 of his hit songs.
According to a lawsuit filed by Eminem’s publishing company, Eight Mile Style, in a Michigan federal court, Meta allegedly used the rapper’s music across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp without securing proper licensing rights. The lawsuit seeks at least $109 million in damages, citing Meta’s continued use of the music even after failed negotiations through licensing agency Audiam.
The legal filing claims that Meta incorporated Eminem’s music into its vast content library, enabling millions of users to pair the songs with videos that have collectively garnered billions of views. Eight Mile Style accuses Meta of encouraging copyright violations to boost user engagement and advertising revenue, which accounted for nearly 97.8% of Meta’s total income in 2023.
The suit also alleges that Meta has hosted karaoke and instrumental versions of Eminem’s songs despite repeated warnings about licensing violations. Eight Mile Style argues this behavior reflects a broader pattern of tech giants exploiting artists’ intellectual property to drive platform growth and profitability, all while neglecting proper compensation.
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Meta, in a brief response, claimed it holds numerous licensing agreements globally and was actively negotiating in good faith with Eight Mile Style. The company expressed surprise at the lawsuit, stating that discussions were ongoing when the legal action was filed.
This isn’t the first time Eminem’s camp has clashed with Zuckerberg’s empire. In 2013, Eight Mile Style also filed a lawsuit against Facebook for using Eminem’s music in a promotional video without authorization.
Now, with the stakes significantly higher, Eight Mile Style is demanding $150,000 for each alleged copyright violation across all Meta platforms and is requesting a jury trial to resolve the matter.
The case raises serious questions about how social media platforms handle copyrighted music and could set a major precedent in the ongoing battle between music rights holders and tech corporations.
