EMINEM WINS DAMAGES IN NEW ZEALAND COPYRIGHT CASE

Earlier this year rapper Eminem had filed proceedings against New Zealand's governing party for using a version of his chart-topping song Lose Yourself in an election campaign advertisement called Eminem Esque. The legendary rapper has finally won the case and New Zealand's High Court awarded the rapper’s publisher NZ$600,000 (AU$535,000/ £315,000) in damages.

“Eminem Esque has substantially copied Lose Yourself,” the ruling stated. “The differences between the two works are minimal; the close similarities and the indiscernible differences in drum beat, the ‘melodic line’ and the piano figures make Eminem Esque strikingly similar to Lose Yourself. Eminem Esque substantially reproduces the essence of Lose Yourself. The parts of Eminem Esque used in the National party’s campaign advertisements also substantially reproduce Lose Yourself.”

Eminem's Lose Yourself, which appeared in the rapper's 2002 film 8 Mile, is one of his biggest hits.