A jury ruled in favor of the Beastie Boys deciding that Monster Beverage Corporation committed Copyright Infringement by using Beastie Boys music without a license in an online video. The music group was seeking $2.5 million from the suit, but settled for $1.7 million.<\/p>\n
Copyright Infringement is defined as the use of work protected by copyright law without permission. This infringes on exclusive rights the copyright holder has been granted. The copyright holder has the right to reproduce, distribute, display, and perform their protected work.<\/p>\n
In 2012, Monster Beverage Corporation used four different songs, \u201cSabotage,\u201d \u201cSo What\u2019cha Want,\u201d \u201cMake Some Noise,\u201d and \u201cLooking Down the Barrel of a Gun\u201d in a YouTube video for the company\u2019s energy drinks without permission or any proper licensing.<\/p>\n
Surviving group members, Michael \u201cMike D\u201d Diamond and Adam \u201cAd-Rock\u201d Horovitz testified during the trial, honoring their passed member, Yauch\u2019s wishes. Yauch left specific instructions indicating that the group\u2019s songs never be used in any form of advertising or commercial purpose. He asked his group members to fight against any violations. The Monster Beverage Corporation\u2019s YouTube video ended with a tribute to MCA, Adam Yauch, the band member who tragically lost his battle to cancer.<\/p>\n
During the trial, Monster Beverage Corporation asked the jury to give the band no more than $125,000 based on common sense, but the jury decided on $1.7 million. Monster Beverage Corporation also claimed that the music was used because an employee thought the company had the necessary permission.<\/p>\n