Launched in 2014, the lawsuit was filed by 8 Mile Style, Eminem's publisher, after New Zealand's National Party used a song with strong similarities to the artist's 2002 hit "Lose Yourself" in its campaign ads.
In what seemed like a no-brainer, the courts ruled that the song, oddly titled "Eminem Esque," was "sufficiently similar" to Eminem's song and was a clear violation of copyright laws.
"Eminem Esque has substantially copied ‘Lose Yourself,'" the ruling says, according to Page Six. "The differences between the two works are minimal; the close similarities and the indiscernible differences in drum beat, the ‘melodic line' and the piano figures make ‘Eminem Esque' strikingly similar to ‘Lose Yourself.'"
With the case closed as of Thursday, the courts awarded 8 Mile Style, which controls some of Eminem's early work, $415,000 — plus interest, Page Six reported.
"Eminem was not a party to this lawsuit nor was he consulted regarding the case," the rep told the outlet. "Any monetary settlement he receives from it will be donated to hurricane relief. He encourages the plaintiffs, 8 Mile Style, to do the same."
According to a statement from the National Party's Peter Goodfellow, the song was purchased through a production library "who had purchased it from a US supplier," the New York Post reported.
Despite being "disappointed" with the ruling, Goodfellow indicated the National Party is considering filing a claim against the suppliers attached to "Eminem Esque."
