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New Zealand's High Court ruled Tuesday that the National Party must pay Eminem $482,000 for copyright infringement.
The court found that the National Party was in breach of copyright law when it used Eminem's song, "Lose Yourself" in a 2014 election ad. The money is to be paid to Eminem's publishing company, Eight Mile Style.
The award reflects a hypothetical license fee reasonably charged for permission to use "Lose Yourself" the in National Party ads.
Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press writes:
In her 134-page ruling today, Justice Helen Cull wrote that she was particularly compelled by the testimony of Jeff Bass, the song's co-writer and producer:
"His intention to create a tense hypnotic feeling by the guitar strum, chords and drum beat succeeded, through the insistent rhythm and guitar strum," Cull wrote. "The effect of this was amply demonstrated by Mr. Bass’s playing the guitar riff in court."
The track used in the political ad campaign, she wrote, "was designed to 'sound like' Eminem and 'Lose Yourself.' "