What Startups Can Learn from Eminem’s $109M Lawsuit Against Meta

🎧 Eminem Is Suing Meta for $109 Million and It’s a Big Lesson in IP

What do you get when you cross 243 Eminem tracks, Instagram Reels, and a tech giant with slightly fuzzy licensing paperwork?

Apparently… a $109 million lawsuit.

Yep, that’s right. Eminem’s music publishing company, Eight Mile Style, has filed a claim against Meta (parent of Facebook and Instagram), saying the company allowed people to use his music without proper permission. Think Reels, Remixes, and “Original Audio” tracks, all loaded up with Slim Shady’s early catalogue, allegedly without a license.

Meta has a bunch of deals in place with music rights holders. But here’s the catch: Eminem wasn’t one of them.

So now Eight Mile is asking for $150k per track, per platform. And with 243 tracks in play across multiple Meta apps? That adds up fast.

So, what actually happened?

Here’s the breakdown:

• Meta allegedly used Eminem’s songs in Instagram and Facebook features without the right licenses.

• Eight Mile says they’ve been flagging this for years, and Meta kept hosting the tracks anyway.

• Meta says they were negotiating… Eight Mile says, “See you in court.”

• The claim totals around $109 million and includes calls for a full jury trial and injunctions to stop Meta using the music altogether.

Basically: Meta had a blanket license for music. But it didn’t cover Eminem. Which is a pretty big oversight when you remember he’s… well, Eminem.

Why this matters (especially if you’re building a business)

“This isn’t just famous rapper vs big tech. It’s a real-world example of what happens when IP fundamentals get overlooked. Licensing, especially for music, is complex, and this case shows how even global businesses can fall foul of the basics. For those using music, it’s a wake-up call: IP can be a significant asset and sales tool, but also a significant risk. Clearance and/or permissions in this ever-litigious space are crucial.”
- Chris Hawkes, IA Director, Stobbs IP  

You might not be Meta. (Yet. Dream big.)

But the lessons here are bang-on for startups and scaleups, especially if your business touches music, content, tech, media, creative assets, user-generated content… basically anything fun.

Here’s what this case teaches us:

1. IP isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Meta thought they were covered. But their license didn’t include Eminem’s specific rights. If you’re using third-party content, make sure your agreements are tailored, specific, and cover everything you need.

2. Founders need their IP house in order from day one.

Whether it's your brand, your codebase, your content, or your soundtrack get it locked down. It’s a whole lot easier to do now than when someone’s sending you a six-figure letter before breakfast.

3. Negotiations are great - until they’re not.

Meta says they were negotiating. Eight Mile says they waited long enough. Don’t rely on goodwill; get things in writing early.

4. Statutory damages are no joke.

$150k per song, per platform. Imagine that applied to your business. The costs of getting it wrong are way higher than the cost of getting it right.

🧠 A quick IP health check for founders:

• Have you got all your creative assets properly licensed?

• Have your freelancers and contractors assigned IP to the company in writing?

• Are you using third-party content without knowing exactly what the license says?

• Have you registered your brand name, logo, or original creations?

If you’re unsure on any of those… give us a shout (hello@founders-law.co.uk). This is exactly the kind of thing we help founders and companies get sorted before it ends up in the “See you in court” pile.

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