In an explosive legal move filed on May 30, 2025, Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, took on Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, accusing them of blatant copyright infringement. Through his publishing company Eight Mile Style, Eminem alleges Meta unlawfully stored, reproduced, and exploited 243 of his songs without authorisation.
The lawsuit claims Meta¡¯s platforms encourage users to upload videos featuring his music without proper licensing or attribution, essentially enabling mass music theft on a colossal scale. This isn¡¯t just a copyright dispute over snippets of sound ¡ª it is about a systemic failure to protect artists¡¯ rights in the age of user-generated content.
Instagram Reels, a hugely popular feature for short videos, is singled out in the suit as a major outlet where Eminem¡¯s music is being used illegally. The rapper argues that Meta¡¯s failure to properly license his songs has diminished the value of his copyrights and caused significant financial losses.
Eminem is demanding $150,000 in damages for each infringed song, bringing the total to a staggering $109,350,000 (about Rs 900 crore). He insists this money is compensation for lost profits and Meta¡¯s unjust enrichment from exploiting his music without permission.
This lawsuit is more than a personal battle for Eminem; it represents a critical moment for artists everywhere fighting to protect their work in an increasingly digital world. The case could set new standards for how social media giants handle copyrighted music, especially as short-form video content continues to dominate online culture.
Amid the legal drama, Eminem is celebrating a joyful milestone, becoming a grandfather. His daughter Hailie Jade Scott and her husband Evan McClintock recently welcomed their first child, Elliot Marshall McClintock. The baby¡¯s middle name honours Eminem¡¯s real name, Marshall Mathers, cementing a family legacy.
Eminem had previously shared touching moments of this new chapter in his life in the music video for Temporary, where home footage culminates in Hailie revealing her pregnancy to her father.