Eminem Facebook: Rapper Sues for 'Under the Influence' Copyright Infringement [VIDEO]
Eminem's music publisher is suing Facebook for using one of his songs without permission.
Music publisher Eight Mile Style is suing the social networking site for copyright infringement of Eminem's song Under the Influence.
Facebook's 'Airplane' ad, created by the Wieden + Kennedy ad agency features a song very similar in nature to Under the Influence as background music. The song was used in an April ad to promote Facebook's new mobile software Facebook Home.
View the ad here:
They released another version of the ad with a different version of the background music, implying that the company was made aware of the infringement and tried to cover up their mistake.
The suit reads:
"Upon information and belief, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been a longtime fan of Eminem. This is evidenced by one of the first websites Zuckerberg reportedly created in 1999, on which Zuckerberg refers to himself as "Slim Shady", which is Eminem's famously known alter-ego. Further, the Airplane advertisement evokes the same flippancy as the Eminem/D12 Composition."
The publisher goes on to assume that the Wieden + Kennedy agency catered to the interests of Zuckerberg in the hopes of having their ad selected to run.
Eight Mile Style also pressed charges with Apple for using Eminem's song Lose Yourself in an ad without their permission. Apple arranged a settlement with the company out of court.
Wieden + Kennedy also used Lose Yourself in a Superbowl Chrysler ad in 2011. However, the song was used with permission from the rapper himself.
Facebook tried to counter Eight Mile Style's claim by suggesting that the song was actually a copyright infringement of Michael Jackson's Give It To Me, though the publisher noted: "Not one person who heard the Facebook advertisement, and commented on it on the blogosphere, noted any similarity between the Facebook advertisement and any Michael Jackson song."
