The track was used to promote prime minister John Key’s re-election bid
Eminem is suing New Zealand’s National Party for allegedly using his track ‘Lose Yourself’ without permission.
The rapper’s publishers, Eight Mile Style LLC and Martin Affiliated LLC, said that they were seeking damages for copyright infringement after backing music similar to the song was used in the election advert.
They filed proceedings in the High Court at Wellington yesterday (September 16).
“Eminem’s publishers were not approached for permission to use any of Eminem’s songs for this campaign advertisement,” Joel Martin, spokesperson for the publishers told the New Zealand Herald.
“It is both disappointing and sadly ironic that the political party responsible for championing the rights of music publishers in New Zealand by the introduction of the three strikes copyright reforms should itself have so little regard for copyright.
“We do not hesitate to take immediate action to protect the integrity of Eminem’s works, particularly where a party, as here, has sought to associate itself with Eminem and his work.”
The National Party has rejected the allegation that it infringed the rapper’s work and says the track came from an Australian-based production outfit.
“The National Party will be defending this action vigorously. As the matter is now before the courts we will not be making any further public comment,” it said.
The party said the track in question has been used by other organisations without complaint, and that it has also agreed not to use the song again.
In 2004, Eminem sued Apple for using one of his songs in a television commercial without permission.
