Sun. Jul 6th, 2025

Beastie Boys Sue Restaurant Chain for Alleged Copyright Violation


Beastie Boys have taken authorized motion in opposition to Brinker Worldwide, the homeowners of the Chili’s restaurant chain, for allegedly infringing upon the band’s copyright with a industrial resembling that of the band’s hit tune and music video “Sabotage.”

Residing members Michael Diamond (MIke D.) and Adam Horovitz (Advert-Rock), together with Dechen Yauch, who’s the executor of the late Adam Yauch’s (MCA) property, have joined collectively to file the criticism, searching for a jury trial over the place the restaurant chain did certainly infringe upon the copyright.

In response to the criticism, the band alleges that “no sooner than November 2022, Brinker produced, sponsored, and inspired the creation and posting on social media of movies to advertise Brinker’s “Chili’s” eating places that included musical compositions and sound recordings that had been used with out the permission of the rights homeowners.”

The group alleges that parts of their musical composition for “Sabotage” had been synched to the industrial video, which featured a trio of characters “sporting apparent 70s-style wigs, pretend mustaches, and sun shades who had been meant to evoke the three members of Beastie Boys carried out scenes depicting them ‘robbing’ elements from a Chili’s” restaurant intercut with fictitious opening credit, in methods clearly just like and meant to evoke within the minds of the general public scenes from Plaintiff’s well-known official ‘Sabotage’ video.”

This was all finished with out the band’s permission as they haven’t licensed their music for third-party product promoting functions, a provision that Yauch left in his will that his bandmates have strictly enforced since his passing.

READ MORE: Adam Yauch’s Will Forbids His Music in Adverts

What Beastie Boys Are In search of From Brinker (Chilii’s)

The swimsuit claims that the infraction was “intentional and willful” and so they really feel that the advert may mislead viewers into accepting the advert as a band endorsement. Consequently, the group is searching for a everlasting injunction in opposition to Brinker that may hold them from additional infringement of the band’s copyrighted works.and necessitate the removing of the advert from promotional platforms.

As for a monetary award, the group states that an quantity in every case just isn’t lower than $150,000, however that the precise damages and income could be decided at trial.

The total authorized criticism could also be seen right here.

Beastie Boys, “Sabotage”

About Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” Video

“Sabotage” initially appeared on Beastie Boys’ 1994 album, Unwell Communication. Whereas the tune was a stable hit at different rock radio, it loved equal or larger successes at MTV the place the Spike Jonze-directed video was nominated for 5 MTV Video Music Awards.

The video featured members of the band dressed as ’70s period law enforcement officials, sending up among the action-oriented Seventies tv cop dramas. The clip even went as far as to offer credit for every character very similar to the opening of a TV sequence.

75 Finest Rock Songs of the ’90s

You will not wish to miss a factor.

Gallery Credit score: Chad Childers, Loudwire



Related Post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *