Beastie Boys Sue Restaurant Chain for Alleged Copyright Infringement

Beastie Boys have filed a lawsuit against Brinker International, the parent company of the Chili’s restaurant chain, accusing them of copyright infringement. The complaint centers on a commercial that the band claims mirrors their iconic song and music video “Sabotage.”

Surviving members Michael Diamond (Mike D.) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock), together with Dechen Yauch, executor of the late Adam Yauch’s (MCA) estate, have united to initiate this legal action. They are seeking a jury trial to determine whether Brinker indeed violated their copyright.

The complaint asserts that “no earlier than November 2022, Brinker produced, sponsored, and encouraged the creation and posting on social media of videos to promote Brinker’s ‘Chili’s’ restaurants that included musical compositions and sound recordings used without the permission of the rights owners.”

The band alleges that elements of their “Sabotage” composition were synchronized with the commercial video, which depicted a trio of characters dressed in 70s-style wigs, fake mustaches, and sunglasses. These characters seemed to evoke the three members of Beastie Boys and performed scenes showing them “robbing” ingredients from a Chili’s restaurant. These visuals were intercut with fictitious opening credits, reminiscent of scenes from the official “Sabotage” video.

Notably, this was done without the band’s authorization, as Beastie Boys have never licensed their music for third-party product advertising. This restriction was explicitly stipulated in Adam Yauch’s will, a provision his bandmates have rigorously enforced since his death.

The lawsuit claims that the infringement was “intentional and willful.” The group fears that the ad could mislead viewers into thinking it was an endorsement by the band. Consequently, they are seeking a permanent injunction against Brinker to prevent further infringement of their copyrighted works and to mandate the removal of the ad from all promotional platforms.

Financially, the band is asking for compensation of no less than $150,000 in each case, though the actual damages and profits will be assessed at trial.

“Sabotage” was first featured on Beastie Boys’ 1994 album, Ill Communication. While the song was a hit on alternative rock radio, it gained significant popularity on MTV, where the Spike Jonze-directed video was nominated for five MTV Video Music Awards.

The video showcased band members dressed as 70s-era police officers, parodying the action-packed 1970s television cop dramas. The clip even included character credits, mimicking the opening of a TV series.

Source: Loudwire, NewsBreak