Eminem’s Publisher Advances Core Copyright Claims Against Meta

US federal court has allowed Eminem’s music publisher to proceed with key copyright infringement claims against Meta Platforms, in a dispute over the alleged unauthorised use of hundreds of songs on the company’s platforms.

The ruling means the publisher can continue pursuing its central allegation that Meta directly infringed copyright by using or making available a large catalogue of protected musical works without proper licensing. The case involves claims relating to 243 songs, which the publisher says were used without authorisation across Meta’s services.

According to the complaint, the publisher argues that Meta’s systems either stored, reproduced, or facilitated access to copyrighted music in a way that went beyond permitted use under copyright law. It maintains that such activity amounts to direct infringement, exposing the company to liability regardless of whether the content was uploaded by users or generated through platform tools.

While the court permitted the primary direct infringement claim to move forward, it narrowed parts of the wider case. In particular, it limited secondary liability claims, which sought to hold Meta responsible for allegedly enabling or contributing to infringement carried out by third parties on its platforms.

The ruling does not determine whether Meta is liable, but it marks a procedural step in favour of the publisher by allowing its core arguments to proceed into the next phase of litigation. Meta will still have the opportunity to contest the allegations as the case develops.

Copyright disputes involving large technology platforms have become increasingly common as music publishers and rights holders challenge how content is stored, shared, and recommended across digital ecosystems. The outcome of this case could have implications for how platforms structure licensing agreements and manage copyrighted material at scale.

Meta has faced similar legal scrutiny in the past over intellectual property and content usage, particularly in relation to user-generated content and automated distribution systems. The company has consistently maintained that it complies with copyright law and provides mechanisms for rights holders to protect their work.

The case will now proceed with the narrowed set of claims, focusing on whether Meta’s handling of the disputed works constitutes direct infringement under US copyright law.

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