Omotayo Fashola
Eminem’s publishing powerhouse, Eight Mile Style, has launched a legal battle against Meta, Mark Zuckerberg’s tech empire, in a high-stakes copyright showdown.
The lawsuit claims Meta illegally exploited the rap legend’s music across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—racking up billions of views without proper licensing.
Filed in Michigan, the explosive complaint accuses Meta of storing, reproducing, and distributing 243 of Eminem’s tracks without permission. Eight Mile Style is demanding a staggering $109 million in damages and an immediate halt to the alleged copyright violations.
The suit reveals Meta’s music library is packed with unauthorized Eminem hits, synced to viral videos that have dominated its platforms. Despite failed licensing talks with Audiam, Meta allegedly turned a blind eye—fueling what the lawsuit calls “rampant infringement” to drive engagement and ad revenue, which hit a jaw-dropping 97.8% of Meta’s 2023 earnings.
Even after being called out, Meta reportedly kept hosting karaoke and instrumental versions of Eminem’s tracks. “This is a trillion-dollar corporation profiting off artists’ hard work while ignoring their rights,” the filing slams.
Meta fired back, telling the LA Times it has global licensing deals and negotiated in good faith—but Eight Mile Style “chose to sue instead.” This isn’t their first feud: in 2013, Facebook faced heat for using “Under the Influence” in an ad without approval.
Now, Eight Mile Style is pushing for $150,000 per song, per platform—and wants a jury to decide Meta’s fate.
John Okoro
