EMI to sue over alleged unpaid Def Jam Rapstar royalties

Music licensing giant EMI has filed suit against 4mm Games and Terminal Reality over Def Jam Rapstar.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, EMI claims the co-defendents failed to secure rights for music used in the game, including tracks by Kanye West, DMX, Lil Wayne and others.

EMI's suit states that it contacted both parties to notify them of the oversight and request appropriate royalties, but did not receive a response.

The licensing of several tracks included in Def Jam Rapstar's soundtrack is complicated by multiple guest artsist and samples, meaning in some cases several companies own partial interests in the finished tracks.

EMI's demands, on the other hand, are pretty straight forward - it claims its rights to 54 songs were infringed, and wants $150,000 in statutory damages for each one - or $8.1 million.

Def Jam rapstar is a karaoke title for PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 which release in late 2010. A sequel was briefly touted but did not eventuate.

Thanks, GamePolitics.