Beastie Boys and Universal Music Group have recently settled lawsuits accusing Chili’s parent company of using their iconic 1994 song “Sabotage” without permission in social media ads to promote the restaurant chain. The settlement notices were posted in Manhattan federal court and Dallas federal court, where the lawsuits were originally filed. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed to the public, leaving many fans curious about the details.
The legendary rap trio, consisting of Adam Horovitz, Mike Diamond, and the late Adam Yauch, known as MCA, were the members of Beastie Boys who brought the lawsuit against Brinker International, the parent company of Chili’s. The dispute arose when Chili’s released a video that included significant portions of “Sabotage,” along with visuals that resembled the original music video directed by Spike Jonze. Beastie Boys made it clear that they do not authorize the use of their intellectual property for advertising purposes, a sentiment that was also expressed in Yauch’s will.
The video in question featured characters wearing 70s-style wigs, fake mustaches, and sunglasses, clearly meant to evoke the members of Beastie Boys. The trio’s objection to Chili’s unauthorized use of their song highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the music industry. This is not the first time Beastie Boys have taken legal action to defend their music, as they previously won a $1.7 million jury verdict against Monster Beverage for unauthorized use of their songs in a YouTube video. The settlement of this latest lawsuit adds to the band’s legacy of standing up for their artistic rights and maintaining control over their music.
