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Eminem settles ringtone suit
07/06/2006 10:13 - (SA)
Chicago - Rapper Eminem has settled a lawsuit over the illegal use of his Grammy award-winning songs in ringtones, court records showed.
Eminem's publishing company filed the suit against Colorado-based Cellus and five other companies last October.
The case involved "the blatant and unauthorised use" of Eminem's songs and music for ringtones, which "has become extremely popular and has spawned an entire industry", the complaint said.
Lawyers for Eminem and the main defendant did not immediately return calls for comment on Tuesday. Court documents said the lawsuit was dismissed on June 1.
Howard Hertz, a Bloomfield Hills lawyer for Eminem and his publishing companies, told the Detroit News that illegal Eminem ringtones are generating hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
He would not disclose the terms of the settlement, saying only: "We reached an amicable agreement."
Distributors who sell Eminem songs to karaoke bars without obtaining proper licences can expect similar suits in the next few months, Hertz added.
Another company, Nextones.com, did not respond to the lawsuit and was ordered to pay $195 000 in damages on May 16, court documents showed.
- AFP
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South Africa
