Eminem’s Publisher Takes Aim at Meta Amid Legal Dispute

During the Super Bowl LVI halftime show at SoFi Stadium, Eminem commanded the stage with his signature intensity. Beyond the performance, however, the rapper’s publishing company, Eight Mile Style, has stepped into a high-stakes legal battle with Meta. The case concerns alleged unauthorized use of his music across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

In May 2022, Eight Mile Style filed suit against the social media giant. The lawsuit highlights what the company describes as repeated exploitation of Eminem’s catalog without proper licensing.

The lawsuit asserts that “Meta is one of the most valuable companies in the world.” It accuses the corporation of leveraging its size to pressure smaller challengers. Attorney Richard Busch emphasized the imbalance of power: “Meta may effortlessly start and then endure a war of attrition. This is in order to force a smaller opposing party into submission.” According to the filing, Meta allegedly used 243 of Eminem’s compositions for user-generated content, copying, syncing, and streaming videos without proper authorization. Each incident, the documents suggest, reflects a disregard for the legal and creative rights of artists.

The Battle Over Artistic Control

On April 25, 2024, Eminem appeared at the NFL Draft in Detroit. This served as a reminder of his enduring influence. Meanwhile, the legal case continues to unfold, aiming to address the use of his work in millions of social media videos without consent.

Meta’s claimed access to the music stems from a 2020 agreement with digital rights facilitator Audiam. This agreement is now under scrutiny in court. Eight Mile Style casts the litigation as part of a larger fight against corporate overreach: “Meta’s years-long and ongoing infringement … Is another case of a trillion-dollar company exploiting the creative efforts of musical artists.”

The company is seeking both financial damages and a permanent injunction to prevent future unauthorized use of Eminem’s catalog.