Beastie Boys Sue Energy Drink For Using Their Music

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By Rob Markman

Monster Energy Drink is facing a lawsuit after illegally using the Beastie Boys' music in an ad, against the wishes of the deceased Adam "MCA" Yauch.

Mike D, Ad-Rock and the estate of the late Yauch sued Monster Energy Corp. on Tuesday, E! News is reporting. The Beasties are claiming that Monster tried to create "an association" with the iconic rap/rock group by using a number of their songs in a promotional video without licensing the music. The Check Your Head MCs are seeking unspecified damages, alleging copyright infringement and a host of other intellectual property violations.

Monster's 2012 Ruckus in the Rockies promo vid, used to promote a snowboarding competition, appeared on the company's website in May and the footage was set to B-Boy classics like "Sabotage," "So What'cha Want" and "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun." The complainant states that the video is "comprised substantially of excerpts from the Beastie Boys Sound Recordings and the Beastie Boys Musical Compositions totaling more than three minutes in duration."

In May Adam Yauch, a founding member of the Beasties passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. After what seemed to be an outpouring of sympathy and support from the entire music community, Ad-Rock spoke to Rolling Stone about MCA's bravery. "I don't believe Adam was afraid," he told the mag. "Bummed out, yeah. But I can't think when I ever saw him afraid. ... That gives me peace."

Mike D. told Rolling Stone that he and Ad-Rock would continue to make music, though he wasn't sure if they'd release anything in a "band format" again. "Yauch would genuinely want us to try whatever crazy thing we wanted but never got around to," he said.

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