Eminem publisher sues social network site over song usage

Eminem’s song publisher is suing Facebook and an ad agency, saying they copied music from one of the rapper’s songs.

Eight Mile Style filed a federal lawsuit in Detroit on Monday, alleging that a Facebook ad that was broadcast online last month copied music from Eminem’s 2000 song, “Under the Influence.”

The Detroit Free Press reports that the 30-second ad was featured in a webcast by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to announce Facebook Home, an interface for Android phones.

The complaint says ad agency Wieden”Kennedy of Portland, Oregon, copied Eminem’s music “in an effort to curry favour” with Facebook by catering to Zuckerberg’s personal likes and to “invoke the same irreverent theme” of the song.