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The Beastie Boys and Universal Music Group (UMG) have reached a settlement in separate lawsuits against Brinker International, the parent company of Chili’s. The legal actions stemmed from accusations that Chili’s unauthorizedly used the iconic rap group’s 1994 hit song, “Sabotage,” in their social media advertisements, thus infringing upon established intellectual property rights.
Notices of the settlements were submitted on Wednesday in both the Manhattan federal court and the Dallas federal court. These were the venues where the Beastie Boys and UMG had initially filed their respective claims against Brinker International. The specific terms of the settlements remain confidential.
Legal Proceedings and Key Arguments
Attorneys representing the Beastie Boys, UMG, and Brinker have not yet released any statements regarding the settlements as of Thursday.
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The Significance of “Sabotage”
“Sabotage” gained substantial recognition as a single from the Beastie Boys’ critically acclaimed album “Ill Communication.” The song’s popularity was further amplified by its music video, directed by Spike Jonze, which served as a parody of 1970s television police dramas.
The Allegations Against Chili’s
The Beastie Boys specifically objected to a Chili’s promotional video that they claimed incorporated significant portions of “Sabotage” and closely resembled the original “Sabotage” music video.
- The complaint highlighted the video’s depiction of “three characters wearing obvious 70s-style wigs, fake mustaches, and sunglasses who were intended to evoke the three members of Beastie Boys.”
Intellectual Property Rights
The Beastie Boys maintained a strict policy against licensing their intellectual property for commercial endorsements. This stance was reinforced by a clause in the will of the late founding member Adam “MCA” Yauch, which explicitly prohibited such usage.
The group’s other members included Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Michael “Mike D” Diamond.
Beastie Boys: Legacy and Previous Legal Battles
The Beastie Boys, formed in 1981 in New York City, achieved a significant milestone with their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2012, a month before Yauch’s passing.
Prior Victory in Copyright Infringement Case
In June 2014, the Beastie Boys secured a $1.7 million verdict in a jury trial against Monster Beverage. The lawsuit centered on a YouTube video featuring a remix of their songs, including “Sabotage”, thus reinforcing the importance of music licensing.
Brinker International’s Operations
As of March 26, Brinker International, headquartered in Dallas, managed 1,573 Chili’s restaurants and 53 Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurants, either operated directly or through franchise agreements.
The case details are as follows: *Beastie Boys et al v Brinker International Inc*, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 24-05221; and *UMG Recordings Inc et al v Brinker International Inc et al*, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, No. 24-02535.