Court Orders Monster Energy Drink To Pay $1.7 Million To Beastie Boys

In another copyright infringement suit filed by a hip-hop artist(s), a Manhattan judge awards a hefty payout to the plaintiffs.

Legendary hip-hop group, Beastie Boys, filed a lawsuit against Monster Energy Drink with claims of copyright infringement. On Thursday (June 5th), the two surviving members of the group were awarded $1.7 million after a jury found the defendants guilty of ten charges.

The Beastie Boys claims that Monster used several of their songs for commercial endorsements without their authorization. In a promotional video posted online by Monster, the group says that their likeliness and music were used and left online for five weeks.

Monster had committed willful copyright infringement involving five songs: “Sabotage,” “So Watcha Want,” “Make Some Noise,” “Pass the Mic” and “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun.”

Jurors chose to award $120,000 for each of 10 violations of copyright.

The jury also awarded an additional $500,000 after finding that Monster used the bands’ persona without permission, suggesting a false endorsement of Monster’s products.

Beastie Boys made a huge impact on the hip-hop culture in the late 80’s. They were the first all-white hip-hop group who went on to sell over 40 million records. The Beastie Boys were later recognized by their peers and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

The group consisted of rappers Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, Michael “Mike D” Diamond, and Adam “MCA” Yauch.  In 2012, Yauch passed away at 47 years old after a three year battle with cancer.

Source: AP