Rapper Eminem Wins $535K For Misuse Of His Hit Song In Ad Campaign

Rapper Eminem Wins $535K For Misuse Of His Hit Song In Ad Campaign
B&T Magazine
By B&T Magazine



American rapper Eminem has successfully sued a New Zealand political party for $NZ600,000 ($A535,639) for using his hit song “Lose Yourself” in an election advert.

As reported on B&T back in May, the American artist took umbrage to New Zealand’s National Party using the song – albeit a copy bought from a stock library – back in 2014’s federal election. Check out the offending ad below:

During the ongoing legal case, Eminem’s lawyers argued the song was a direct rip-off and any advertiser wanting to use it commercially should pay the artist millions of dollars. On the other hand, the National Party said they had bought the rights to the song for a few thousand dollars from a music library and it had been altered enough so as not to infringe copyright.

The verdict was handed down in the Wellington High Court today with the presiding judge, Justice Helen Cull, deciding in Eminem’s favour (who wasn’t present in court.)

National Party president Peter Goodfellow said the result was disappointing. “The Party is now considering the implications of the judgment and the next steps,” he said.

Eminem, who co-wrote the track with Jeff Bass and Luis Rest, has not yet commented on the verdict.




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