Why Eminem is Suing Meta for $109 Mn: The Battle Over 243 Songs

Key Highlights

• Eminem's publisher sues Meta for $109 million over unauthorized use of 243 songs on Instagram. 
• The lawsuit seeks $150,000 per song, alleging Meta's platforms exploited Eminem's music without permission. 

Eminem's publishing company, Eight Mile Style, has filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The lawsuit, filed on May 30 and obtained by E! News on June 3, charges Meta with copyright infringement.

Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, claims that Meta allowed the unauthorized use of 243 of his songs on its platforms. According to the court documents, Meta's features, such as Original Audio and Reels, make it simple for users to record clips of Eminem's music without permission.

According to the lawsuit, these tools allow and encourage users to steal his tracks and use them in videos without proper attribution or licensing. As a result, Eight Mile Style seeks more than USD109 million in damages.

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Why is Eminem suing Meta Platforms?

Eminem claims Meta violated his copyright by storing, reproducing, and exploiting his songs without permission. The filing seeks damages for the diminished value of the copyrights, lost profits, and any profits Meta derived from the infringement.

Alternatively, he asked for the maximum statutory damages of USD 150,000 per song across all Meta platforms, totaling USD 109,350,000.

According to the lawsuit, users can easily search for Eminem tracks on Facebook and Instagram and then add them to their Reels or Stories. Without proper licensing or credit, these uses devalue the original recordings. In the filing, Eminem's team lists all 243 songs in his catalog, including hits like Love the Way You Lie.

Eminem has frequently discussed how important music is to his mental health. "One of the great things about rap music is that you could put so much of your life into it," he said in a June 2022 interview with Shade 45's Sway In The Morning. "It's therapeutic and that's how it's always been for me." His lyrics frequently address his difficult childhood and personal struggles.

The lawsuit comes as Eminem continues to defend his artistic legacy. The Detroit rapper has a long history of using legal means to protect his music rights. His decision to sue Meta echoes previous battles over copyright and royalties.