Eminem Sues Meta for $109M Over Unauthorized Music Use

Eminem Sues Meta for $109M Over Unauthorized Music Use.

The rap icon’s team says Meta used his music without permission hundreds of times. Now they want justice.

His music publishing company, Eight Mile Style, has filed a major lawsuit against Meta, the parent company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The core of the complaint? They say Meta used 243 of Eminem’s songs without getting the green light or paying up.

That includes some of his most iconic tracks, allegedly made available through features like “Reels Remix” and “Original Audio,” where users can add music to their posts.

According to the filing, Meta didn’t have the right licenses and kept using the music even after being told to stop.

What’s at the Heart of the Lawsuit?

This isn’t a misunderstanding over one or two songs. The lawsuit points to hundreds of tracks being uploaded, stored, and shared across Meta’s platforms without proper authorization.

Eight Mile Style claims Meta ignored the rules and let users remix, reuse, and share Eminem’s music freely, helping boost engagement and ad revenue in the process. They say Meta didn’t just drop the ball, they never even tried to play by the rules.

To make matters worse, the lawsuit says Meta kept copies of the songs on its servers even after being warned. That, according to the publisher, isn’t just sloppy. It’s deliberate.

Eight Mile Style isn’t just seeking an apology. The publishing company is demanding $150,000 for each infringed song, which brings the total to roughly $109 million in damages.

In addition to financial compensation, the lawsuit also calls for a court order to block Meta from using any more of Eminem’s music without proper authorization.

What Meta Is Saying

Meta hasn’t stayed quiet. They’ve pushed back, saying they’ve signed deals with various music rights groups and have been trying to work things out with third parties like Audiam. But Eminem’s team says those talks didn’t go through them and that Meta was trying to cut corners instead of making things right.

So far, both sides are holding their ground, and this legal fight is shaping up to be a big one.

Why It Matters Beyond Eminem

This case could ripple across the entire music and tech industry. Artists, record labels, and publishing companies have been frustrated for years over how their work gets used and often monetized, without fair compensation on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

If Eminem’s team wins, it might force companies like Meta to get more serious about how they license music and handle copyrighted content. And for creators?

It could mean fewer free rein remixes and more rules.

Eminem’s Long History of Legal Fights

This isn’t Slim Shady’s first courtroom clash. In fact, he’s been pretty consistent about defending his work from day one.

Back in the early 2000s, Eminem took on Apple over an iPod ad that used “Lose Yourself” without his approval. Around the same time, his mother sued him for defamation after he rapped about their rocky relationship. There was even a lawsuit from a former classmate who claimed he was slandered in the song “Brain Damage.”