Eight Mile Style, the publishing company behind Eminem’s extensive catalog, has filed a $109 million lawsuit against Meta, accusing the tech giant of using 243 of the rapper’s songs without permission across its social platforms.

The complaint, filed in federal court in Nashville, claims Meta knowingly made Eminem’s songs available through features like Instagram Reels and Facebook’s Original Audio tool, technologies that allow users to overlay music on short-form videos and viral content. Among the allegedly unlicensed tracks are some of Eminem’s most recognizable hits, though the lawsuit doesn’t name them specifically. At $150,000 per work - the maximum allowed under U.S. copyright law - the case could carry significant implications for how social platforms negotiate music rights in the future.

At the center of the case is a familiar story: a legacy artist’s catalog being folded into a new tech ecosystem without clear authorization. According to Eight Mile Style, Meta had tried to obtain licenses through Audiam, a rights management company, but the publisher claims no agreement was ever finalized. In their view, Meta moved forward anyway, letting users access and repurpose Eminem’s work on platforms that generate billions in ad revenue.

It’s not the first time Eight Mile Style has gone after a tech company. In 2019, the publisher sued Spotify over alleged royalty failures tied to over 200 songs. That case was ultimately dismissed, but it signaled a bigger frustration among publishers who have struggled to enforce copyright in the streaming and short-form content age.

Meta is arguably the most powerful force in digital communication and by extension, digital distribution. The company’s reach makes it a prime venue for music exposure, but also a complicated space when it comes to rights. Reels and Stories run on speed, spontaneity, and remix culture, not licensing agreements and publishing splits.

But even in a TikTok-dominated world, Eminem’s catalog holds weight. For Eight Mile Style, the issue isn’t just missed royalties. It’s control. Who gets to decide how Eminem’s music lives online? Who profits when “Lose Yourself” becomes the soundtrack to a fitness reel or a meme? For legacy catalogs, that presents both opportunity and risk. Exposure on Instagram or Facebook can revive a track for younger audiences but when the licensing isn’t handled properly, it undermines the very system that ensures artists and songwriters are compensated.

As of now, Meta hasn’t responded publicly.