The Beastie Boys have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Brinker International, Chili's parent company, over the alleged unauthorized use of their song "Sabotage" in a social media promotional video.

Surviving members Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz, along with Adam Yauch's estate, claim Brinker produced and posted social media videos promoting Chili's using "Sabotage" without permission as early as November 2022. The lawsuit alleges infringement of the song's composition, recording, and original music video concept.

The lawsuit emphasizes that the Beastie Boys typically don't license their music for advertising, with Adam Yauch's will specifically prohibiting such uses. However, there are some exceptions, such as the song's appearance in a Destiny 2 trailer after Yauch's death.

This case joins a growing trend of social media copyright infringement suits in the restaurant and retail sectors. Notable examples include:

• Monster Energy's $1.7 million payment to Beastie Boys in 2014
• Sony Music's lawsuit against OFRA Cosmetics for infringement on X, Instagram, and TikTok
• Sony's action against Marriott for "rampant infringement" on social media

The case highlights a common misconception about social media music libraries, which are cleared for personal use only, not commercial purposes. As businesses increasingly turn to social media for promotion, proper music licensing remains a critical consideration.

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