Facebook Inc (FB): Will The Real Slim Shady Please Sue Us?

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) likes to use music for some of its promotional ads, especially in a video ad that was promoting the seemingly ill-fated Facebook Home. The ad had to change its music when the real Slim Shady decided to please stand up, please stand up, please stand up.

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB)Yep, he’s the real Slim Shady. Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is finding itself on the short end of a federal lawsuit by Eight Mile Style, the publisher of songs written and performed by rap star Eminem. The suite was filed in federal court in Detroit this week seeking damages for Facebook using Eminem’s music for commercial purposes without written consent.

Music from the Eminem song “Under the Influence” as part of a webcast by CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaking about Facebook Home, the application for Android phones. The video first began showing online in April, but the music was soon replaced by different music, and the video with Eminem’s music has been removed permanently, according to Facebook lawyers. The new ad with the different music has shown online and on TV in recent weeks.

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) just might have its hand full with Eight Mile Style. No one messes with Slim Shady and gets away unscathed. This is not like a “patent troll;” this company vigorously defends Eminem’s rights to his music.

On at least two other occasions, Eight Mile Style won awards for making similar charges against other companies. Back in 2005, the publisher won a settlement with tech giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) when the company used music from the song “Lose Yourself” in a commercial promoting the iPod. Later, in 2011, Audi came to the same result over the same song used in one of its commercials.

“Lose Yourself” was a popular song for commercials, as it was used (with consent this time) in a Chrysler car ad in 2011.

What do you think about Slim Shady taking on Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB)? Do you think Eminem has rights to claim  even though the offending ad has been pulled already? Let us know your thoughts about this case in the comments section below.

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