Eight Mile Style LLC and Martin Affiliated LLC, Eminem's music publisher and copyright manager, has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company violated copyrights by allowing downloads of Eminem's songs onto iPods.
The lawsuit also includes the use of Eminem's song "Lose Yourself" in an iPod commercial. The issue at hand really boils down to who has the rights to authorize music downloads--the music publishers or the record labels. While Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated are reaping the monetary rewards of having music distributed and sold through iTunes, they maintain that Apple was never given permission to do so. Eminem has been amongst the most active in the protection of music rights, and reflects a larger attitude of several in the music industry that are fighting the download industry in regards to distribution and rights.