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Legal
Eminem settles with Audi
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 2 August 2011
Eminem’s publishing company Eight Mile Style has reached an out of court settlement with Audi over the use of one of the rapper’s tracks in a new advert.
As previously reported, back in May Eight Mile Style applied to the German courts for an injunction to stop Audi from using Slim Shady track ‘Lose Yourself’ in a TV ad, after it was unveiled at a press event in Berlin. Reps for the publishing firm said that not only was Audi using the song in its new ad without their permission, but the marketing campaign “felt inspired by” – which might have been a polite way of saying “rips off” – a TV ad released by Chrysler earlier this year which was endorsed by, and indeed starred, Eminem himself. That ad also used ‘Lose Yourself’ in its soundtrack.
In June, a spokesman for Audi in North America said that the dispute did not affect the American division of the car company, as it hadn’t made or aired the offending advert. Which seemed fair enough. But then the press rep added: “The video referred to is not an advertisement”. Which was a bit odd.
Exactly what was meant by that we’ll now never know, as the matter won’t be heard in court after a settlement was reached. Eight Mile Style has asked the judge hearing the case to issue a cease and desist order, but both sides have otherwise agreed to take the matter no further. The exact details of the settlement are unknown, but it is thought that Audi will donate money to one or more of Chrysler’s ‘Imported From Detroit’ charity initiatives.
