Legendary rap group The Beastie Boys know how to make a quick come-up from lawsuits. Last July, they got Monster Energy for $1.7 million dollars after wrongfully using one of their songs in a video that was floating around the World Wide Web for over five weeks. The two remaining members of the group are now suing the energy drink company for another $2.4 million to cover legal fees. You would think that using their song in a video would be somewhat of “free promotion” BUT due to the fact that late member of the group Adam ‘MC’ Yauch said in his will that he never wants any of their songs to make a profit off commercial gains, the group is being extra strict on his wishes. MC passed away back in 2012c due to cancer.
“Monster’s tactics significantly increased the costs for Beastie Boys to vindicate their intellectual property rights, such that, absent an award of attorney’s fees and costs, plaintiff’s success at trial would become a Pyrrhic victory,” they wrote in a filing over the weekend. Monster did admit that they wrongfully used The Beastie Boys’ song without permission, but they expressed in court that they should not have to pay any more than $125,000. What do you think about this messy lawsuit? Sound off and drop your comments below.
Source: Billboard
Why would the Beasties need “free promotion” they’re the Beastie Boys. Monster was using their legend to sell soda. Regardless of the Beasties status, a giant company like Monster should be on top of things like this and paying for the rights of anybodys property they use.