Beastie Boys sue toy company
Beastie Boys have filed suit against bosses of the toy company behind the video parody of their GIRLS hit, insisting the quirky online promo infringes on their copyright.
GoldieBlox executives used the New York hip-hop trio's track for an online ad without permission, and after weeks of cease and desist letters and promises to take the video down, the matter appears to be heading to trial.
The band's lawyers allege GoldieBlox acted "willfully, maliciously
and oppressively with a wilful disregard of the harm that would be
suffered by the Beastie Boys parties" in opting to rework Girls for
the video.
GoldieBlox bosses had hoped to avoid a legal battle with the
Beastie Boys and initially sued the band, alleging the remaining
two members of the trio had threatened the company with copyright
infringement. They argued that the spot was a parody, and therefore
constitutes "fair use".
Beastie Boys founders Mike D and Ad-Rock shot back, "As creative as
it is, make no mistake, your video is an advertisement that is
designed to sell a product, and long ago, we made a conscious
decision not to permit our music and/or name to be used in product
ads."
The group's countersuit was filed in Oakland, California on Tuesday
(10Dec13). Ad-Rock, real name Adam Horovitz, and Mike D, aka Mike
Diamond, are seeking all profits the company may have generated
through airing the viral spot.