Eminem‘s music publisher has sued a Detroit car dealership for unauthorised use of ‘Lose Yourself’ in advertisements.
- READ MORE: Eminem – ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)’ review: well-crafted songs and empty provocation
The track, which was written by Marshall Mathers, Jeffrey Bass and Louis Resto for the rapper’s semi-autobiographical 2002 film 8 Mile, has gone 13 times platinum since its release and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2003.
It’s previously been the centre of a copyright infringement lawsuit against the ruling National Party in New Zealand. The party was found guilty in 2017 and ordered to pay New NZ$600,000 (£314,000), plus interest, to Eminem’s publishing company.
Now, a Metro Detroit car dealership has been sued in federal court in Detroit over the alleged unauthorised use of the song.
Lawyers for Eight Mile Style, LLC and Martin Affiliated, LLC have accused LaFontaine Ford St. Clair, Inc. of using ‘Lose Yourself’ in online advertisements for special edition Detroit Lions F-150 pickup trucks, “in blatant disregard of the exclusive rights vested in Eight Mile.”
According to the lawsuit, filed on Monday (January 27), the ads ran from September to October 2024 on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and potentially other sites.
The video in question allegedly included the song alongside the caption: “You only get one shot to own a Special Edition Detroit Lions F-150.”
“LaFontaine’s actions usurped plaintiffs’ exclusive rights to determine when and under what terms the composition may be used for commercial endorsements and advertising,” lawyer Howard Hertz wrote in the lawsuit, per The Detroit News. “In addition, LaFontaine’s unlawful actions have materially diminished the future value of the composition should plaintiffs wish to make it available for future commercial advertising opportunities.”
Eight Mile Style is seeking an injunction against the video clip and damage relief of at least $150,000.
The publisher asked U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain to find that LaFontaine violated Eight Mile Style’s copyright, order the dealership to cease and desist, and enter a judgment against LaFontaine for actual damages and profits attributable to the infringements of the copyright.
“At no time did LaFontaine receive authorization or a license, as required by law, to record, reproduce, perform, transmit, copy, use, or otherwise exploit the composition for any purpose,” Hertz wrote.
NME has reached out to LaFontaine Ford St. Clair, Inc. for comment.
In other Eminem news, last year he released his latest album ‘The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)’. In a three-star review of the album, NME wrote: “Much more powerful is ‘Temporary’, a genuinely moving ode to his daughter, Hailie, which proves Marshall Mathers can say something that matters when he wants to.
“So, who killed Slim Shady? In bringing him back to the light and showing him up as irrelevant, perhaps Eminem’s done his old pal in for good. OK, we get it – Shady was a shocking character. Now that he’s dead, how about getting some new material?”
