According to NME, Eminem’s music publisher, Eight Mile Style, LLC, along with Martin Affiliated, LLC, has sued a Detroit-based car dealership for allegedly using “Lose Yourself” in advertisements without permission.
The lawsuit claims LaFontaine Ford St. Clair, Inc. utilized the song in online ads promoting special edition Detroit Lions F-150 trucks, disregarding Eight Mile’s exclusive rights.
Filed on Monday, January 27, the lawsuit seeks an injunction to remove the video and demands damages of at least $150,000. The ads reportedly ran on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and potentially other platforms between September and October 2024.
The video at the center of the lawsuit allegedly featured the track alongside the caption, “You only get one shot to own a Special Edition Detroit Lions F-150.”
Attorney Howard Hertz stated in the complaint that LaFontaine unlawfully bypassed the plaintiffs’ rights to control how and when the song is used for commercial advertising.
Hertz further argued that the unauthorized use of the track may have diminished its future licensing potential, making it harder or less valuable for Eight Mile Style to authorize for future commercial deals.
The publisher has urged U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain to rule against LaFontaine, stating that the dealership violated copyright law. Eight Mile Style is seeking a cease-and-desist order along with a financial judgment for damages and profits made from the infringement.
Written by Marshall Mathers, Jeffrey Bass, and Louis Resto for Eminem’s 2002 semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile, the song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
It has been involved in previous copyright disputes, including a 2017 case against New Zealand’s National Party, which resulted in an order to pay $600,000 to Eight Mile Style.
In September, Eminem and Eight Mile Style were also involved in a copyright dispute with Spotify, though the ruling favored Spotify, stating the company was not liable.
