Eminem vs Meta: Rapper sues Facebook parent for $109million after using his hits on its platform
The 'Lose Yourself' rapper's music publishing company, Eight Mile Style, accused Mark Zuckerberg's Meta – the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – of copyright infringement in the May 30 lawsuit.
Potential damages could be more than $109 million. The company is seeking statutory damages of up to $150,000 per song, per platform, according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by PEOPLE.
The lawsuit alleges Eminem's songs were made available in Meta's 'Music Libraries' to then be used in user-generated content using features such as Original Audio and Reels Remix.
The feature has allowed the Grammy-winning artist's songs to be used in millions of videos and streamed billions of times, according to the suit.
Eight Mile Style claims in the suit that Meta violated the copyright of 243 songs from its catalogue through the 'unauthorized storage, reproduction and exploitation' of the songs on various platforms.
The lawsuit claims that because of this, there is now a 'diminished value of the copyrights by Defendants' theft of them, lost profits, and Defendants' profits attributable to the infringement.'
His company is seeking monetary damages and has asked for the maximum statutory damages, or $150,000 for each song, per platform, which would result in $109,350,000 in damages. Eight Mile Style has also requested a jury trial, according to the report.
Court documents allege that Meta tried to get licenses through Audiam, Inc, a digital royalty collection and payment engine, though Eight Mile Style says it did not give Audiam access.
The lawsuit states that while Meta removed some songs after Eight Mile Style's earlier complaints, they allegedly 'reproduced and stored unauthorized unlicensed copies.'
In comments to The Independent, a Meta spokesperson said, 'Meta has licenses with thousands of partners around the world and an extensive global licensing program for music on its platforms. Meta had been negotiating in good faith with Eight Mile Style, but rather than continue those discussions, Eight Mile Style chose to sue."
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20 Problematic Songs From Past 25 Years
"Cool, Daddy Cool" by Kid Rock and Joe C. (2001): The fact that this song appeared on the Osmosis Jones soundtrack, a movie for KIDS, is appalling. Kid Rock clearly sings he likes being with underage girls, and doesn't care if it's considered "statutory rape." To say he's a creep is the understatement of the century. "Bad Guy" by Eminem (2013): Eminem is known for releasing extremely violent, misogynistic, and anti-gay songs for decades. People have argued he's just using his imagination as a songwriter, but in "Bad Guy," he takes it too far and describes in horrific detail how he'd violate someone with a "chloroform rag," among other horrible things. And "Kim" by Eminem (2000): Again, Eminem has a long history of problematic lyrics about women, including his ex-wife, Kim Scott. In "Kim," he fantasizes about kidnapping, abusing, and murdering her. I don't know how this song ever got okayed in the first place. "Try That In A Small Town" by Jason Aldean (2023): It's not just the tough-guy lyrics that are problematic — it's how it leans into a kind of small-town pride that feels more like a threat than a celebration. Even worse? The video was filmed at the Maury County Courthouse, the very spot where, in 1927, black teen Henry Choate was accused (without evidence) of assaulting a white girl and lynched and hanged by a white mob. "Blame It (On the Alcohol)" by Jamie Foxx and T-Pain (2009): The song glamorizes alcohol-fueled hookups in a way that blurs the line around consent, and encourages people to blame reckless behavior on being drunk. The melody is catchy, but if you listen to the words, you'll probably never want to listen to the song again. So I'm here to never listen to this song again. Rick Ross's verse on "U.O.E.N.O." by Rocko (2013): In his verse, Rick Ross describes giving a roofie to a woman, bragging about how he "enjoyed that" (insinuating sex) while she's unconscious. 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"Let's Get Ret*rded" by the Black Eyed Peas (2004): The problematic nature is in the title itself, disrespecting a community that was notoriously made fun of in the 2000s. The Black Eyed Peas released a clean version, titled "Let's Get It Started," but still — the original version exists, and it definitely doesn't hold up in 2025. "Daughters" by John Mayer (2003): This narrow view of a woman's worth in the world makes "Daughters" just an insufferable song. John Mayer believes that women can only be "mothers" and "lovers," AKA just play a role in relation to a man/someone else. "If I Want To" by Usher (2001): Like "Runaway Baby" by Bruno Mars, this Usher song is a clear sign that a man doesn't care how a woman feels. If he's attracted to her, he will do anything to "make her his," brushing off any "misunderstandings." "If I Want To" is problematic at best. And finally, "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I. 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