News
Eminem’s label settles lawsuit over Apple ad
The Detroit News reports that the record label of Eminem has agreed to an undisclosed financial settlement in its lawsuit over the use of one of the rapper’s songs in an Apple ad that appeared on MTV. “The parties were able to reach an amicable resolution,” said Howard Hertz, lawyer for Eight Mile Style and Eminem.
The commercial for the iTunes Music Store featured a young boy singing Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” and aired on MTV beginning in July 2003. In February 2004, Eight Mile Style filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Apple, MTV and others claiming that Apple used the hit song without permission. Eminem’s lawyers said at the time that “even if he were interested in endorsing a product, any endorsement deal would require a significant amount of money, possibly in excess of $10 million.”
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1
What a whiney little girl. The punk sells millons of records at damn near 20 bucks a pop and then freaks out when someone sings his song without his permission. I thought he would have liked the free endorsement from apple on national television.
Posted by matt928347 in California on May 10, 2005 at 8:32 AM (PST)
2
Well matt….its obvious you have no clue how copyrights work, and how important permission is in national media campaigns. I dont personally like Eminem, but you can’t just use any song you like without paying the piper. Apple was foolish in thinking they could get away with this one.
Posted by LupinIII in Illinois on May 10, 2005 at 9:16 AM (PST)
3
Does anyone have a clip of the ad?
Posted by croooow in Fairfax, VA on May 10, 2005 at 11:21 AM (PST)
4
Yeah this is a touch clip to find, since the lawsuit took effect. I remember thinking the kid was pretty good. Anyone have a copy?
Posted by Luxo on May 10, 2005 at 11:52 AM (PST)
5
That fool is at it again. “sigh” America, how greedy we are. Apple should have asked him to use the song. To me he’s just another guy who thinks he can rap/sing, and i believer that his music isn’t worth money personally. Heck, i would say 90 of the american music industry THINKS they can sing.
Later,
Byrd
Posted by Byrdman on May 10, 2005 at 12:44 PM (PST)
6
I agree, copyright is important. I’m just irritated over the fact that there were a few other songs in that one commercial, yet none of those artists sued Apple.
Posted by matt928347 in California on May 10, 2005 at 8:38 PM (PST)
7
What a dummy. Hasn’t he heard of a little thing called ‘free exposure’. Especially when the commercial is for one of the hottest devices on the planet?!?! I wonder how many downloads of that song has it cost him… IDIOT!
Posted by Frank Z on May 11, 2005 at 4:02 AM (PST)
8
Whose the dummy? Like Eminem NEEDS free exposure…
If it had been Micro$oft that had been sued, every Apple fanboy would be jumping up and down about how Billy Boy is this vile, evil villain looking to steal away legitimate rights of recording artists for his own grubby master scheme. But when Apple gets caught ILLEGALLY using someone’s music without consent and/or permission, well now, suddenly it’s all the artist/composer’s fault.
Talk about a warped sense of reality. Shills, get real; even your Apple GODS make mistakes every once and a while (like that neat, gaping widget hole in Tiger’s Dashboard, eh?).
That’s why they invented lawyers. Besides, if any used Apple’s logo without permission—like to sell an iPod accessory—who of you will stand by and say their lawyers won’t be sending some choice paperwork to the offending company? I mean, after all, any accessories only goes to support the iPod universe, right? Regardless of the fact that Apple CHARGES for the priviledge of official sanction these days.
Posted by flatline response on May 11, 2005 at 4:39 AM (PST)
9
I have to agree with Flatline here. I don’t mind brand loyalty, but it seems with alot of this crowd, it’s anything goes as long as it’s against Microsoft/Real/Sony/Rio/...... And anytime anyone has a beef with Apple, no matter how legit, they’re just clueless, greedy, oportunists who just need to get on the Apple bandwagon and accept destiny.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPod and I’m looking forward to buying a MAC, but let’s all at least admit that even Apple makes mistakes, and they’re in this game to make money, not just to make us happy.
This one seems crystal clear to me. Apple must have thought they could get away with it by having someone else sing the song, instead of using an actual Eminem recording, but they guessed wrong. I think they were intentionally trying to get around having to get permission and pay licensing fees in order to save a buck or two. Either that, or they felt they wouldn’t be able to get Eminem’s permission, so they tried this route. What was Apples response to the lawsuit - Gosh, we didn’t know we needed his permission - I don’t buy it.
Posted by pickme on May 11, 2005 at 9:09 AM (PST)