In an effort to block internet companies from profiting off of his music, Eminem's publishing company has filed suit against five companies selling ringtones of his songs on the internet.
According to the Associated Press, the suit names Cellus USA, FanMobile, Nextones.com, MyPhoneFiles and MatrixM. In addition to the aforementioned companies, lawyers also aim to block karaoke companies from selling Em's songs on their sing-along CDs without obtaining the proper licenses.
With ring tone profits reaching an astounding $217 millions in 2004, the rapper's representatives feel they are losing out, while these companies profit off his music.
"This is a big business," said attorney Howard Hertz, a representative for the plaintiffs. "We're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars a year."
Eminem has stayed out of the media spotlight the past month or so, since he checked himself into a drug-rehabilitation center to treat a dependency on sleep medication, as well as canceled the European leg of his Anger Management tour in August.
According to the Associated Press, the suit names Cellus USA, FanMobile, Nextones.com, MyPhoneFiles and MatrixM. In addition to the aforementioned companies, lawyers also aim to block karaoke companies from selling Em's songs on their sing-along CDs without obtaining the proper licenses.
With ring tone profits reaching an astounding $217 millions in 2004, the rapper's representatives feel they are losing out, while these companies profit off his music.
"This is a big business," said attorney Howard Hertz, a representative for the plaintiffs. "We're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars a year."
Eminem has stayed out of the media spotlight the past month or so, since he checked himself into a drug-rehabilitation center to treat a dependency on sleep medication, as well as canceled the European leg of his Anger Management tour in August.
