Wondering why the rap icon Eminem has taken the social-media giant Meta to court, and what it means for his songs across Facebook and Instagram? Curiosity surged when the recent court filings revealed that the Detroit rapper’s publishing arm, Eight Mile Style, seeks millions from Meta Platforms Inc. Now, many are eager to learn why Eminem is suing Meta.
Here is why Eminem is suing Meta
Eight Mile Style alleges Meta stored, reproduced, and monetized 243 Eminem songs without permission through features such as Reels, Reels Remix, Original Audio, and the in-app Music Libraries.
According to the complaint, these tools “allow and encourage its users to steal” by letting them overlay tracks on videos without proper licenses or attribution. Because millions of clips featuring Eminem songs have already circulated, the suit claims the market value of the copyrights has been severely “diminished.” (via E! News)
The filing breaks the claim down in stark numbers. Under U.S. copyright law, statutory damages can reach $150,000 per infringed work. Multiplying that figure by 243 compositions and by each of Meta’s three core platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Eight Mile Style calculates potential damages at $109,350,000.
The suit brands Meta’s conduct not only “rampant infringement” but “knowing infringement,” arguing that the company allowed the infringement to persist while profiting from user-generated content that drove engagement and ad revenue. (via TheWrap)
The “Mockingbird” singer’s publishing arm also asserts that Meta tried to legitimize the use of Eminem songs through Audiam, Inc., a digital royalty firm with which the publisher says it never signed a licensing deal. By bypassing direct negotiations, Meta allegedly stripped Eminem of control over how his music appears online, precisely the kind of autonomy artists fight to protect.
At the time of writing, neither Mack Zuckerberg nor Eminem has issued a public statement about the lawsuit.
