Eminem Sues Meta for $109 Million Over Alleged Copyright Violations.
Rap legend Eminem is stepping into the legal ring with tech titan Meta, launching a massive $109 million lawsuit over what he claims is widespread, willful copyright infringement of his music catalog.
Filed on May 30 in Michigan through his publishing company, Eight Mile Style, the lawsuit accuses Meta of unlawfully distributing 243 of Eminem’s songs without obtaining proper licenses. The suit argues that Meta enabled and profited from this unauthorized use via user-generated content on its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
“Meta knew it had no rights to distribute or license these compositions and yet continued to do so,” the lawsuit states, calling the violations both “extensive” and “willful.”
Eight Mile Style is seeking statutory damages of $150,000 per song, per platform, totaling $109,350,000, according to TheWrap. The company claims Meta’s user features—such as Reels Remix and Original Audio—created an environment that encouraged rampant misuse of copyrighted material. This content, the suit says, was viewed billions of times and generated engagement that benefited Meta, all while artists like Eminem were left uncompensated.
The complaint outlines Meta’s failed attempts to license the music through Audiam, Inc., a digital rights management company. However, Eight Mile Style insists it never authorized Audiam to handle its catalog. It accuses Meta of using the attempted negotiation as a “cover” to justify making Eminem’s music available in its Music Libraries and throughout its social media tools.
The lawsuit also references past takedown requests—including for the Oscar-winning hit “Lose Yourself.” While Meta responded by removing some content, Eight Mile Style says the company still hosts instrumental and cover versions, continuing the alleged infringement.
Moreover, the complaint contends that Meta cannot claim safe harbor protections under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) because the company had actual knowledge of the violations and failed to implement meaningful safeguards to stop them.
Eight Mile Style is pursuing not just statutory damages, but also actual damages, lost profits, and a permanent injunction to halt further use of Eminem’s music without proper licensing. The publishing company has demanded a full jury trial.
A Legacy Worth Defending
With over 220 million records sold globally, Eminem stands as one of the best-selling music artists in history. He’s sold 47.4 million albums and 107.5 million singles in the U.S. alone. His YouTube channel has surpassed 10 billion views, and in 2014, Spotify named him the most-streamed artist of all time. To date, his total Spotify streams—including features—are estimated at 57 billion, not including unofficial content like lyric videos and remixes.
Today, the Detroit icon commands a net worth of $250 million, built on record sales, global tours, merchandise, and massive digital engagement.
Final Note: Protecting Creativity in the Digital Age
This lawsuit underscores a growing tension between tech platforms and creators as digital content continues to evolve. Eminem’s decision to legally challenge one of the world’s largest tech companies signals that artists—especially those with decades of global influence—are increasingly unwilling to let unauthorized use slide.
Regardless of the outcome, Eminem’s stand could prompt a broader conversation around licensing practices, fair compensation, and copyright protection in the era of reels, remixes, and AI-generated media.
As one of music’s most influential figures, Eminem isn't just defending his own legacy—he’s helping define the rules for how creativity is respected and monetized in a digital world.
