Eminem lawsuit against New Zealand political party begins
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — They may not have lost themselves in the music or the moment but a judge and nine lawyers in a New Zealand courtroom did listen politely to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” as a copyright trial involving the country’s ruling political party began Monday.
The Detroit-based music publishers for Eminem are suing New Zealand’s conservative National Party, alleging the rapper’s acclaimed 2002 song was copied in the party’s soundtrack for a TV ad aired during its successful 2014 election campaign. Titled “Eminem Esque,” the track has the familiar urgent, pulsing beat of Eminem’s song.
The party has previously said it purchased the track through an Australian-based supplier and doesn’t believe it has infringed anyone’s copyright.
In 2014, when the case was filed, lawmaker Steven Joyce said he thought the use of the song was “pretty legal,” and that Eminem’s team “are just having a crack and a bit of an eye for the main chance because it’s an election campaign.” That response was widely ridiculed, including by comedian John Oliver on his show “Last Week Tonight.”