Eminem’s publishing company is suing Audi for the unauthorized use of his song ‘Lose Yourself’ in an ad, reports Billboard.
Eight Mile Style LLC, which is the publishing company for Eminem’s copyrights, is seeking a ‘cease-and-desist’ order against Audi. The company claims the new Audi commercials, for the 2012 Audi A6 Avant, are using the rapper’s song without permission.
Joel Martin, a spokesman for Eight Mile Style, also believes Audi is using the track to copy a Chrysler advertisement featuring the same song.
“We believe Audi not only used ‘Lose Yourself’ to sell their product without permission, but their spot actually feels inspired by elements of Chrysler’s commercial campaign.”
Gualberto Ranieri, a Chrysler Group spokesman, says “Apparently someone believes that the definition of copyright laws is the right to copy others’ materials, including world-renowned successes created by Chrysler Group brands.”
It looks like Audi is in some deep trouble. Sure, you can use a song to make your car look cool, but you end up looking really stupid if you didn’t gain permission to use it. I have a feeling Eminem’s people will win this case.
Reality star Bethenny Frankel is being sued for $100 million, reports TMZ.
Being the creator of the Skinnygirl margarita brand, Frankel has been sued for more than $100 million for allegedly cutting her former management company out of the biggest deal of her life.
Frankel’s former management company, Raw Talent, claims Bethenny signed with them back in 2008 with the hopes of maximizing the potential of her Skinnygirl cocktail line. And then dropped them when she began making big money.
According to the lawsuit, Raw Talent claims “[Bethenny] expressly represented that any agreement relating to the exploitation of the Skinnygirl Cocktail Brand would be commissionable under their management agreement.”
The company claims they hooked up Frankel with some powerful people in the liquor biz, only for Beth to then fire them days before she sold Skinnygirl for a reported $120 million.
Raw Talent claims they want their cut of the deal, $12 million, plus $100 million in punitive damages.
That’s some pretty shady business. I’m thinking that this was probably just a miscommunication in the contract or something, because I don’t think Frankel really needs the money that bad. $100 million in ‘damages’ seems an awful lot too, though. The company kind of seems shady as well, so who can we trust?
An Atlanta woman is suing music producer Jermaine Dupri over missed child support payments, reports Billboard.
After a judge recently ordered him to pay her, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Margaret Dorsey told the Grammy-winning producer in March to pay $2,500 a month and an additional $7,500 to Sarai Jones, based on the results of a paternity test.
Jones’ attorney, Randy Kessler, said Jones hopes that she and Dupri “can work together to co-parent their beautiful baby girl,” who is 7 months old.
Dupri’s lawyer, James Kane, declined to comment.
The lawsuit was filed at a time when Dupri is facing financial troubles. His mansion was up for foreclosure and set to be auctioned last week, but the sale was canceled at the last minute. WSB-TV obtained records from the Georgia Department of Revenue, saying that Dupri owes the state more than $493,000 in back taxes for 2007.
Based off his 2006 income, Forbes.com said Dupri was one of hip-hop’s top earners, taking home $12 million. Dupri has produced hits for artists including Usher and Mariah Carey, and had a seven-year relationship with Janet Jackson that ended a couple years ago.
Shame, must be rough for him. I don’t know where all his money went, but he better start gathering some pronto because this is no joke. If you don’t wear the glove, you have to deal with the consequences.
Bret Michaels is suing the Tony Awards over a head injury he received at the June 2009 awards, reports People Magazine. A lawsuit was filed by the musician on Friday in Los Angeles, according to documents obtained by People.
Michaels’s attorney, Alex Weingarten, issued the following statement: “The Tony Awards dropped a piece of the stage on Bret’s head, and then instead of doing the right thing, joked about it and played it off for ratings … Bret never wanted to file a lawsuit, but the Tony Awards have left us with no choice. They must be held accountable for almost killing Bret, and that is what we are going to do.”
The musician, who performed at the Tonys with his band Poison and the cast of Rock of Ages, fell down after being hit by a piece of scenery. He was knocked to the ground, and fractured his nose. The singer also required three stitches in his lip.
Michaels is suing CBS and the Tony Awards for unspecified damages, and claims that despite his asking producers for instructions on where to stand on the Radio City Music Hall stage during his performance, he was only told to “simply exit the stage from the rear.”
According to the suit, “Michaels was never told that the scenery piece would be descending or given any warning of the existence of the dangers it presented. Quite the opposite, Michaels specifically asked for instructions regarding how to exit after his performance and was just told to walk off the rear of the stage – in what was ultimately the danger zone.”
So far, there has been no comment from CBS or the Tony Awards.
This is a pretty big issue. I can’t believe the Tony people aren’t taking responsibility for this – just own up to it. I have a strong feeling that Michaels will win the case, because really, what can they counter with? Are they actually going to try and say its his fault for walking into the falling piece of scenery? I wish the best of luck to Michaels in this case, and am on his side. If a falling piece of equipment smashed me in the head, I would be pretty pissed too.
Okay, okay, you’re right. Downloading things illegally is, well, illegal. But is this for real?
The producers behind the Oscar-winning (including Best Picture) film, The Hurt Locker, have filed a suit against 5,000 BitTorrent users for illegally downloading their movie, reports perezhilton.com.
The producers started the crusade a few months ago, but it has now become official. All 5,000 users will be handed subpoenas for violating copyright laws. Voltage Pictures is seeking $1,500 settlement from each person. They also warn people that if they do not settle, the company will go after them for 10 times as much when (if) the case goes to court.
An official list of offenders has not been given to Voltage Pictures, but they do have the IP addresses of the accused.
All we can say is that hurts.
Actor Nicollette Sheridan, known for her role on “Desperate Housewives,” is suing the show’s creator, Marc Cherry.
According to TMZ, Sheridan is claiming that Cherry struck her across the head and face on set of the show, after she complained about him firing her. She is suing for assault and battery, gender violence and wrongful termination. She wants over $20 million.
In the lawsuit, Sheridan says that Cherry had created an unfriendly workplace from the beginning, “behaving in an extremely abusive and aggressive manner toward the individuals who work on the show.”
On September 24, 2008, Cherry allegedly physically assaulted Sheridan after she asked him about something in the script. According to the suit, “Cherry took her aside and forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head.” The lawsuit then goes on to say that after the supposed incident, Cherry went to Sheridan’s trailer to “beg forgiveness.”
Even when “The Hills” season isn’t airing, the young starlets in Hollywood still manage to stir up drama and this time it involved Doug Reindhardt. Perhaps his girlfriend Paris Hilton rubbed off on him. TMZ reported that a vicious war between Reindhardt and his landlord sparked the drama that lead to the people behind the popular reality TV show being sued for allegedly completely trashing a rental home where they were taping. It started back in September, when Reinhardt sued his landlord claiming he owed him $21k from a security deposit he put down on a home in Hollywood Hills that was featured on “The Hills.” The landlord has his own woes as he said that the 24-year-old TV personality and baseball player broke his contract as he let MTV shoot inside the rental home without permission.
Oh, the irony.
Rapper Dr. Dre has sued Death Row Records, the record label he founded and used to own with Suge Knight, reports CHARTattack.com.
Dre, real name Andre Young, is alleging that the company has not paid him royalties on his 1992 album The Chronic since 1996.
Dre filed a suit against WIDEawake Death Row Records, which is now owned by Canada’s WIDEawake Entertainment Group, on Thursday, Feb. 11. The rapper is seeking $75,000 U.S. (about $79,000 Canadian) in damages, alleging that the label has committed a breach of contract, copyright violation and misappropriation of publicity.
