Judge orders Monster Beverage Corp. to pay Beastie Boys legal fees

The hip-hop band won £1.01 million last year following copyright infringement

A New York judge has ordered Monster Beverage Corp. to pay $668,000 (£422,000) of the Beastie Boys legal fees.

The hip hop group took the energy drink to court following a copyright violation and subsequently won their case, receiving $1.7 million (£1.01 million) in summer 2014.

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Following the win, the group pushed for Monster to pay nearly $2.4 million in legal fees reports Billboard, with a final verdict declared on Monday (June 15).

The original case centred on a video created by the corporation which used five Beastie Boys songs in a “Beastie Boys Megamix” and flashed the message “RIP MCA” on screen to promote a show in 2012 without the band’s knowledge or permission. The late Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch stated in his will that his likeness or art, including his work with the Beastie Boys, was not to be used for advertising purposes.

US District Judge Paul Engelmayer said there was “ample basis” to believe that the video could have made viewers assume it was endorsed by the hip-hop group.

During the trial Beastie Boys member Michael Diamond – aka Mike D – effectively announced the end of the band, saying that they promised the late MCA they would not make any new music after he passed away. “We have not been able to tour since MCA, Adam Yauch, died,” Diamond said. “We can’t make new music.” When asked if the band would have given permission for their work to be used in the Monster promo, Mike D said: “Absolutely no”.

Meanwhile, Mike D has put his home up for sale. The four-storey townhouse in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn is on the market for $5.6 million (£3.5 million). As reported by FACT, the property has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, a media room, a second kitchen, 11′ ceilings and period details plus a large garden.

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