| Centauri |
21-05-04 05:59 PM |
Eminem Suing Apple Computer
Quote:
Eminem is ready to take a bite out of Apple Computer.
A federal judge ruled Monday that the rapper's case against the company for illicitly using his lyrics in a commercial can proceed.
The real Slim Shady showed his litigious side in February after an Apple iTunes commercial featured a 10-year-old boy with an iPod, singing along to "Lose Yourself," Eminem's Oscar-winning theme from 8 Mile.
The ad aired on MTV over a three-month period beginning in July 2003, and was also featured on the Apple Website.
Enraged at the unauthorized use of his music, Eminem (real name: Marshall Mathers III) filed suit against Apple, MTV's parent company, Viacom Inc., and advertising agency TBWA/Chiat/Day.
"Eminem has never nationally endorsed any commercial products and...even if he were interested in endorsing a product, any endorsement deal would require a significant amount of money, possibly in excess of $10 million," stated the suit, filed in Detroit in February on behalf of 8 Mile Style, Em's publishing company.
Apple apparently turned green at the thought of such a hefty financial bite; the suit reports that Apple CEO Steve Jobs personally approached Eminem and 8 Mile Style manager Joel Martin, asking them to "rethink their position."
But Eminem wasn't prepared to change his stance and broke off discussions with the company at that point.
Now the lawsuit is set to proceed, though no trial date has been set. Eminem's lawyer, Howard Hertz, declined to discuss the possibility of a settlement.
"We were pleased that the judge recognized that the use of the song in the commercials could be a false endorsement, as we believe it was," Hertz said, per Reuters.
No word from Apple on the suit.
Outside of his court battles, Eminem is set to serve as host of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network's Detroit Hip-Hop Summit on Saturday. The event is geared towards encouraging youths to register to vote, as well as celebrating the history of hip-hop.
Obie Trice, 50 Cent and G Unit, among others, are set to headline the event with Eminem.
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Source: http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,14136,00.html
ED: I just noticed it had already been posted. |
