Eminem's label settles with Apple

eminem itms ad kid Eminem's record label announced they have agreed to an "undisclosed financial settlement" to resolve their copyright infringement suit against Apple for using Eminem's Oscar-winning "Lose Yourself" without permission in an iTunes Music Store ad that appeared on MTV in the summer of 2003. Viacom and TBWA/Chiat/Day were also named in the suit.

The ad in question featured a 10-year-old singing the song, which you may recall from the surprisingly not-awful movie "8 Mile." According to the suit, Apple had tried to get Eminem's permission to use the song, but he rejected it, with his lawyers saying "even if he were interested in endorsing a product, any endorsement deal would require a significant amount of money, possibly in excess of $10 million." Apple used it anyway. Ah, the cost of doing business.

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Eminem's record label announced they have agreed to an "undisclosed financial settlement" to resolve their copyright infringement...

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nabu

i'm loonking the ads in question, the one with jason lee also, it seems like apple have erased it from the whole www.

May 11 2005 at 4:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jack

Lee, if you do something on your own and video tape it for your own use, you can virtually use any music or material you want. If you however use the work for commercial purposes--such as an iTunes ad--which is promoting a product, you are then violating copyright law. This is nothing new. Some would debate the pluses and minuses, but if you work on creating something you have a right to defend how it's used and deserve compensation if someone rips you off. Eminem was 100% correct. And as much as I like Apple, I'm quite amazed that a copyright issue as basic as this slipped through the cracks. TBWA/Chiat/Day and Apple are not neophytes towards rights and usage issues. Why they went blank on this one and did what they did is quite astonishing.

May 10 2005 at 5:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

bryan

well done Eminem :-) Apple got exactly what they deserved! I hope it cost them a small fortune

May 10 2005 at 5:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Lee

So....(in addition to looking like a dork) if I film myself singing an M&M song, do I owe him $10 MILLION??

May 10 2005 at 5:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Laurie

Frankly, I'm bothered by the fact that anyone listens to Eminem ;)

May 10 2005 at 12:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

MrBlank

Am I the only one bothered by the fact that they have a 10-year-old listening to Eminem??