Beastie Boys have very nearly settled a lawsuit in which they accused Chili’s of copyright infringement over a social media ad that parodied the “Sabotage” video, Billboard reports and court records confirm. The band sued Brinker International, the parent company of Chili’s Grill & Bar, last July, alleging that the use of the Ill Communication song falsely implied that Beastie Boys endorsed Chili’s. Universal Music Group (UMG) subsequently sued Brinker for using unlicensed music in dozens of other Chili’s ads. (The label has also now settled with Brinker International.) The Beastie Boys’ impending settlement follows mediation between the parties this month; terms of the agreement have not been revealed. They expect to file a formal dismissal on July 7, according to the court document.
The Beastie Boys lawsuit alleged copyright infringement and trademark rights violations over an ad that, per the lawsuit’s description, featured “three characters wearing obvious 70s-style wigs, fake mustaches, and sunglasses,” in the style of the Spike Jonze–directed 1994 video for “Sabotage.” The group, which does not license songs for third-party advertising, originally sought $150,000 in monetary damages, a takedown of the commercials, and an order preventing Brinker from using their work moving forward.
