October 6, 2005 10:28
Eminem tackles ringtones
The rapper is going to court to stop mobile phone rip-offs
Photo Gallery: Eminem
Photo: Pa Photos
Eminem is taking on firms who make ringtones out of his songs.
Lawyers for the rapper’s publishing companies filed a lawsuit at a US District Court in Detroit attempting to prevent five companies from selling internet ringtones. Eminem also plans to tackle karaoke companies who use his songs without a correctly license too, MTV News reports.
"This is a big business," said Howard Hertz, a legal representative for Eminem’s companies. "We're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars a year."
Ringtone revenue has rapidly increased in the States recently, with a Jupiter Research report suggestion it was worth more than $217 million in 2004, and estimated that figure would triple by 2009.
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