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Eminem sues Audi

Hamburg - Eminem has filed a lawsuit against German carmaker Audi for allegedly appropriating one of his songs for a car commercial.

The commercial in question bears a striking resemblance to another car ad using the same song, but endorsed by Eminem in that case.

"Audi should have come up with a better idea," read a comment on Eminem's German-language website.

At issue is an Audi commercial that uses a song that, according to Eminem, has an unauthorised riff from the rapper's song Lose Yourself.

It was alleged that the Audi spot copies a lot of its imagery from the recent Imported from Detroit campaign by US carmaker Chrysler, in which Eminem appears and the song Lose Yourself is featured.

"We are absolutely shocked. We don't just think that Audi used the song without permission to sell its product, but that the spot bears a striking resemblance to the Chrysler campaign," read the statement on Eminem's website.

A spokesperson for a Hamburg court confirmed that a lawsuit had been filed by Eminem's music company, Eight Mile Style.

Audi had no comment other than to say it was in discussions with Eight Mile Style.

The Audi commercial was made for a select audience to view at the premiere of the Audi A6 Avant in Berlin, but somehow leaked online via video-sharing website Youtube. Authors: Jenny Tobien, Niels C Sorrells

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