Billboard.com
A federal judge has ruled that music publisher Eight Mile Style can continue pursuing a copyright infringement lawsuit against Meta, keeping alive a legal battle that could expose the technology giant to more than $100 million in potential damages.
The case centers on allegations that songs controlled by Eight Mile Style, including several recordings associated with rapper Eminem, were made available through music libraries on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp without proper authorization.
Meta had sought to have the lawsuit dismissed at an early stage, arguing that the claims lacked sufficient detail. However, Judge Brandy R. McMillion determined that the publisher had presented enough factual allegations for the case to move forward, allowing it to enter the discovery phase, where both sides can gather evidence and documents.
Eight Mile Style’s complaint involves 243 musical compositions, including some of Eminem’s most recognizable works. The publisher is seeking statutory damages that, if awarded at the maximum level requested, could total approximately $109 million.
In her ruling, McMillion found that the allegations regarding the storage and availability of the songs within Meta’s platforms plausibly support a claim of direct copyright infringement. The decision means the publisher will have an opportunity to further develop its case as litigation continues.
The court did, however, dismiss a separate set of claims that accused Meta of encouraging or contributing to infringement by its users. Eight Mile had argued that the company facilitated unauthorized use of copyrighted music through user-generated content, but the judge found that the complaint failed to provide enough specific examples to support those allegations.
The ruling narrows the scope of the case but leaves the central copyright dispute intact.
Neither Meta nor Eight Mile Style publicly commented on the decision following the ruling. Notably, Eminem himself is not a party to the lawsuit, despite the case involving compositions linked to his catalog.
The dispute is the latest chapter in Eight Mile Style’s long-running efforts to challenge digital platforms over music licensing. The publisher previously brought a similar lawsuit against Spotify, alleging unauthorized use of its catalog. That case ultimately ended in a settlement after years of litigation.
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