Apple slapped with copyright suit - report

Rap singer Eminem has accused Apple of copyright infringement in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, according to a story in The Detroit News.

Eminem's music publishers have not given Apple permission to offer the artist's music for download, according to the report, although Eminem's music is available through Apple's iTunes Store.

Apple pays a portion of the revenue it collects from Eminem downloads to Universal Music Group, which distributes the music but not to Eminem's publishers, the paper reported. Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated, the companies representing Eminem, are demanding that Apple stops offering downloads.

The newspaper suggested the problem is caused by the confusion over who owns the rights to downloads. Apparently, Eminem is asserting that record companies do not hold these rights exclusively.

Eminem has tangled in court with Apple before. Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated sued Apple in 2004 over the rapper's song 'Lose Yourself', which Apple used in a TV commercial. The case was settled out of court.

Owen Sloane of Berger Kahn, an entertainment lawyer who has represented such artists as Barry Manilow, Stevie Nicks and Steve Winwood, said he expects more entertainers will go to court to demand a larger slice of the digital pie. Music publishers have also expressed dissatisfaction at the way music royalties are distributed.

Sloan said: "All the publishers are rankled that they have to go after the record labels to collect their fees. Sometimes these fees may not be accounted for properly. The publishers would prefer to collect directly from the source instead of the labels."

Apple did not respond to an interview request.

Greg Sandoval writes for CNET News.com