Eminem taking National Party to court

Eminem is taking the National Party to court. Photo NZ Herald.
Eminem is taking the National Party to court. Photo NZ Herald.
The publisher of United States' rap star Eminem is taking the National Party to court, with a hearing set down for next week.

Last year it was revealed that Eight Mile Style LLC and Martin Affiliated LLC, the Detroit-based publishers of Eminem's copyrights, intended to sue the The National Party.

They allege the National Party breached copyright by using a song that sounded similar to Eminem's 'Lose Yourself' in its campaign advertisements throughout the 2014 election.

Eight Mile Style will be taking a civil case against the New Zealand National Party, with a hearing scheduled for next Friday at the High Court in Wellington.

Eminem's publishers claimed they were not approached for permission to use any of Eminem's songs for the campaign advertisement.

The National Party rejected those allegations and said the music was purchased by the book.

At the time, National's campaign chairman Steven Joyce said National stopped using the music in its advertising after the publishers contacted them.

Today, National Party Secretary Greg Hamilton said the party stood by all comments that were made in a statement released last September.

"The National Party is defending this action and will not be making any further public comment until it is resolved."

In its earlier statement, the party rejected allegations the library music used in its campaign advertisements was a copyright infringement of any artist's work.

The party had purchased the music from production music supplier Beatbox, based in Australia and Singapore, the statement said.

"As with all works licensed by the Beatbox library music service, the National Party was assured the music in question did not infringe any copyright and was an original work," last year's statement read.

The music license and fee were arranged through the Australasian Performing Rights Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA/AMCOS), who act as agents for Beatbox in Australia and New Zealand, organisations which existed to protect the rights of artists, the party said.

"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."

 

 

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