Beastie Boys Sue Chili’s Owner for Copyright Infringement and Unfair Competition
The Beastie Boys, a renowned hip-hop and rock group, have recently filed a complaint in Manhattan federal court against Brinker, the owner of Chili’s, for copyright infringement and unfair competition. The group alleges that significant portions of their 1994 track “Sabotage” were used without permission in social media ads for the restaurant chain.
In their lawsuit, the Beastie Boys’ attorneys assert that the use of the “Sabotage” sound recording, music composition, and video in Chili’s ads was unauthorized. They emphasize that the band does not license their intellectual property for third-party product advertising and that the late Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch specifically prohibited such uses in his will.
The plaintiffs in the suit include Yauch’s estate, as well as Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz. Yauch, who passed away from cancer in 2012 at the age of 47, was an integral part of the group.
The Beastie Boys accuse Brinker of creating a Chili’s social media ad in 2022 that incorporated parts of the song. The ad allegedly featured three individuals wearing 1970s-style disguises while stealing ingredients from one of the chain restaurants. This use of the song bears a striking resemblance to the Spike Jonze-directed music video for “Sabotage” that the Beastie Boys released in 1994 after their album “III Communication.” The official music video has garnered over 131 million views on YouTube alone, making it highly recognizable to the public.
In their complaint, the Beastie Boys are seeking damages of at least $150,000 and a permanent injunction order to prevent Brinker from using their music. They also demand that the unauthorized Chili’s video be removed from all platforms where it has been stored or made available by Brinker or any third party. The band wants all copies of the video to be destroyed.
This is not the first time the Beastie Boys have taken legal action to protect their music. In 2014, they won a copyright violation case against the maker of Monster Energy drink, receiving $1.7 million in damages. The company had used their music in a promotional video for a snowboarding competition without permission.
Initially, the Beastie Boys had sought up to $2.5 million in damages for copyright infringement and false endorsement in the Monster Energy case. However, Monster argued that they owed no more than $125,000, claiming that an employee had mistakenly believed they had permission to use the music. Ultimately, the jury sided with the Beastie Boys.
In response to their victory, Adam Horovitz expressed gratitude, stating, “We’re happy. We just want to thank the jury.” This successful legal battle against Monster Energy serves as a precedent for their current lawsuit against Chili’s owner Brinker, further bolstering their position as they fight for their rights as artists.
The Beastie Boys’ lawsuit against Brinker highlights the ongoing issue of copyright infringement and the importance of protecting artists’ intellectual property. By taking legal action, the group aims not only to secure fair compensation for unauthorized use of their music but also to assert their rights and maintain control over how their work is used in commercial contexts.
