US rapper Eminem sues New Zealand's National Party

The ruling National Party in New Zealand is facing legal action over the alleged use of a song by US rapper Eminem in one of its election ads, a media report said Tuesday.

Eminem's publishing company Eight Mile has sued the party for alleged copyright infringement of the Grammy and Academy Award winning song "Lose Yourself", the theme song for the movie, "8 Mile", in which Eminem played a struggling rapper, Stuff.co.nz reported.

"In proceedings filed Tuesday in the Wellington Registry of the High Court of New Zealand, Eight Mile Style, LLC and Martin Affiliated, LLC, the Detroit-based publishers of Eminem's copyrights, are seeking damages for copyright infringement against the New Zealand National Party," a court statement said.

The National Party confirmed it had received a complaint but completely rejected the allegation.

The party's campaign manager Steven Joyce said they had gone through all the necessary licensing procedures.

General elections in New Zealand are scheduled to be held Sep 20.
Joel Martin, speaking on behalf of Eminem's publishing company, said they were not approached for permission to use any of Eminem's songs for the ad.

According to the statement, the Eminem's publishers have previously sued Apple for using his song in a commercial spot without permission.

There has also been a high profile dispute with luxury car company Audi, in which the publishers alleged that it had wrongfully used a substantial reproduction of "Lose Yourself" in its advertising.