Eminem's Publisher Demands $2.2M Settlement from Apple

By Jason Beahm on October 12, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo

-Eminem, Lose Yourself

Eight Mile Style LLC, Eminem's publisher, has told a U.S. District Court judge that Apple Computer Inc. and Aftermath Records have already had their one shot to pay up on a $2.2 million settlement. The lawsuit originally arose over iTunes downloads. The settlement from Apple was originally less than the $2.2 million figure, but has grown due to interest and attorney fees, The Detroit News reports.

The settlement from Apple came after a short trial on the question of whether Eminem's record deal gave copyright licenses to musical compositions for downloads though Apple's iTunes. Eminem was not personally a party in that lawsuit. The motion by Eight Mile Style, Eminem's publisher, comes less than a month after a California federal appeals court found that Eminem's former production company was not properly compensated for downloads of Eminem's ringtones and songs. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that Eminem and his producers were entitled to a 50% share of profits for recording licensed to digital distributors.

Music licensing is a topic that comes up often in the entertainment world. Under a music license, the creator of the music enters into an agreement that sets the terms for how their copyrighted music can be used and how they will be compensated. When a consumer buys music, they owns the media on which the information is stored, not the music itself. The purchaser has limitations regarding their use and reproduction of the music.

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