Eminem Launches $109 Million Lawsuit Against Meta Over Music Copyright Infringement

A major legal storm is brewing between one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures and one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful companies. Eminem, the multi-platinum rapper known for his sharp lyrics and unrelenting artistry, has filed a $109 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging widespread copyright infringement.

The suit, brought forth by Eminem’s music publisher, Eight Mile Style, centers on claims that Meta knowingly allowed and profited from unauthorized use of 243 of the rapper’s songs across its platforms. This includes the popular “Reels Remix” and “Original Audio” features used in user-generated content, which allegedly utilized Eminem’s catalog without securing proper licensing.

Alleged Misuse of Iconic Tracks

At the heart of the complaint is the claim that Meta enabled and even encouraged users to pair their videos with Eminem’s music—hits that include “Lose Yourself,” “The Real Slim Shady,” and “Without Me”—without approval or payment. Eight Mile Style contends that this usage has occurred on a massive scale, reaching billions of views and undermining the value of the copyrighted works.

The company argues that Meta’s algorithms and user interface make it easy for users to access and add these songs to their posts, implicitly promoting them while ignoring copyright law. The result, according to the lawsuit, is “systematic and willful infringement.”

“In allowing these practices to continue, Meta is not only profiting from Eminem’s work, but also contributing to a broader erosion of artists’ rights in the digital age,” the filing reads.

How the Infringement Occurred

Meta’s content creation tools, such as Instagram Reels and Facebook Stories, allow users to incorporate music into their video clips. These services are designed to compete with TikTok, which has licensing deals with major music publishers. Meta, however, allegedly failed to obtain full licensing rights for Eminem’s catalog.

While Meta has partnerships with several music rights organizations, Eight Mile Style asserts that no agreement was made granting the company permission to use the rapper’s music in the manner alleged.

The lawsuit claims that Meta did attempt to negotiate a license through Audiam Inc., a licensing and royalty company. However, Eight Mile Style says they explicitly denied such rights and informed Meta that it did not have legal permission to distribute or use Eminem’s tracks.

Despite these warnings, the company alleges, Meta failed to take appropriate action. Some of the content was removed after complaints, but the infringing material reportedly continued to be stored and disseminated through Meta’s servers.

Precedent and Legal Strategy

Eight Mile Style is seeking the maximum statutory damages—$150,000 per infringing use—for each of the 243 works, amounting to over $109 million. The publisher also demands injunctive relief, requesting that the court bar Meta from further usage of the songs and mandate the removal of existing infringing content.

The lawsuit is filed in a federal court in Michigan, where Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, has maintained strong legal ties through his label and publishing firm. Eminem himself is not named as a direct plaintiff, but the case is clearly being pursued in his interest.

This is not the first time Eight Mile Style has taken legal action over copyright issues. In 2013, they sued Facebook for unauthorized use of an Eminem track in a commercial. That case was settled quietly, but the current lawsuit is far more expansive and financially significant.

Legal experts say this case could mark a pivotal moment in how digital content platforms handle music licensing. “This lawsuit shines a spotlight on a loophole that tech companies have been walking through for years,” said media lawyer Jennifer Tate. “If Eight Mile Style succeeds, it could pressure platforms to completely overhaul their licensing strategies.”

Implications for the Music and Tech Industries

The clash between Eminem’s publisher and Meta is more than a celebrity-versus-corporation story; it’s emblematic of larger issues in the digital economy. Artists and publishers have long complained that social media platforms exploit copyrighted music to boost engagement, often without offering adequate compensation.

With billions of users creating content that incorporates music, platforms like Instagram and Facebook walk a fine line between enabling creativity and violating intellectual property law. While companies like TikTok have taken steps to secure robust licensing deals with record labels, others have lagged behind or attempted patchwork solutions.

The lawsuit also raises questions about accountability in the age of user-generated content. Should platforms be responsible for every piece of copyrighted material uploaded by their users? Or is it the users themselves who bear legal responsibility? This case could help answer those questions.

Meta’s Silence and Potential Fallout

As of now, Meta has not issued a public statement in response to the lawsuit. Legal analysts expect the tech giant will argue that it complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which provides certain protections to platforms that remove infringing content upon notification. However, Eight Mile Style argues that Meta’s proactive features—like algorithmically surfacing copyrighted tracks—make them complicit.

Should Meta lose or settle this case, it could trigger a wave of similar lawsuits from other artists and publishers whose works have been used without proper licensing. For Eminem and Eight Mile Style, it could also mean a reaffirmation of artists’ rights in a world increasingly dominated by tech platforms.

Final Thoughts

Eminem’s $109 million lawsuit against Meta is more than a battle over unpaid royalties—it’s a symbol of a shifting landscape where music, technology, and law intersect. As courts determine whether digital platforms must do more to respect and compensate creators, the case may establish legal standards that define the next decade of content sharing.

Whether this fight ends in court or through a quiet settlement, one thing is clear: Eminem is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with Big Tech—and he’s bringing the full weight of the music industry with him.