Apple and Eminem music publisher settle dispute

“Apple Inc. and the music publisher for Eminem have settled a lawsuit over the digital downloading rights to many of the Detroit rapper’s songs, a lawyer said Friday,’ Ed White reports for The Associated Press.

“Eight Mile Style LLC claimed that its contract with Aftermath Records did not authorize the record label to strike a download deal with Apple and the popular iTunes service,” White reports. “Eight Mile and another plaintiff, Martin Affiliated LLC, were seeking millions of dollars, alleging copyright violations on 93 songs, including Eminem’s biggest hit, ‘Lose Yourself.'”

“‘The case was settled to the satisfaction of all parties,’ Eight Mile attorney Richard Busch said,” White reports. “He said terms of the deal are confidential.”

Full article here.

20 Comments

  1. Steve – “Marshall… if you pursue this lawsuit I’m going to stop selling your music on iTunes. You’ll then be free to take your “art” somewhere else.”

    Marshall – “Uh… er… no. That won’t be necessary.”

    As Steve walked out the door, he turned back to Marshall and his lawyers and said this…

    “Guys, remember this phrase…

    iPhone Bitch!”

  2. just keep an eye on iTunes, if they don’t remove his music, he caved and took the money, maybe cut out the extra publishing company.

    if they remove his stuff, they agreed they didn’t have the rights.

    frankly, I’d go with A, they didn’t have a leg to stand on and he isn’t so dumb that he’d pull his music

  3. So, Marshall’s terms were that he continue to sell on iTunes. He also agreed not to sue anymore.

    Apple’s terms were to drop the suit. They also agreed to let him continue to sell on iTunes.

    So they both gave in on something and got something back in exchange…

  4. The main interest in this story is to see how this faired in court. It really didn’t sound like Eminem had much of a case, but if they did, that could have opened the flood gates for thousands of other artist to do the same thing and sue. So without knowing what happened, why even bother reporting this? We already know Eminem and Apple have bad blood between them and Eminem will try every trick in the book to get more $$ out of Apple.

  5. Settlement?

    Steve must have bent over and grabbed the ankles, just like he’s been doing whenever he hit the negotiating table with the record labels and movie studios the past couple years. There’s no fight left in Apple now that they’re reliant on iTunes to feed their growth.

  6. If I were Apple’s Attorney I would said fine, this dispute is between you and the Label, We’ll pull all the songs in dispute from the iTunes store until you and your label works out your dispute then we’ll think of maybe putting them back on the iTunes store in maybe 6 to 9 months or so. After some waivers are signed and we’re reimbursed for legal fees, advertising cost, promotes cost and compensated for damage to our brand. I’d pack up and walk out. Filing a counter claim for damages and see you thugs in court.

  7. @ Addam–

    No, he was never in an Apple commercial. There was, however, an iPod commercial featuring a young kid singing Lose Yourself.

    Eminem cried about that one too.

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