Beastie Boys awarded $1.7 million in Monster Energy copyright dispute
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The Beastie Boys have won their lawsuit against Monster Energy Co. over the company’s unauthorized use of the pioneering hip-hop group’s music in a promotional video.
The surviving members of the group were awarded a $1.7-million judgment against the beverage company on Thursday, according to Reuters.
A federal jury in Manhattan reached a verdict on the eighth day of trial in a dispute in which the group had sought up to $2.5 million for copyright infringement and false endorsement.
Beastie Boys members Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Michael “Mike D” Diamond filed suit against Monster Energy back in 2012, following the death of Adam “MCA” Yauch, after the company used a mix of their songs in a promotional video posted on its website. Yauch’s widow, Dechen, was also part of the suit.
The mix, created by a DJ Z-Trip, included “Sabotage,” “So What’cha Want,” Make Some Noise” and “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun.”
The promo also featured the words “RIP MCA” with a design similar to the energy drink’s distinctive green logo. Yauch’s will explicitly prohibits any company from using his name, likeness or the group’s music for any promotional campaigns.
Monster also posted a 23-minute medley of the group’s songs made available for download as an MP3.
The energy drink maker admitted infringing on the band’s work but contended it should have to pay no more than $125,000.
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