The Beastie Boys are suing Brinker International, the company that owns Chili’s Grill and Bar, for using their 1994 hit ‘Sabotage’ in an advert. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Adam Horovitz, Mike Diamond and the estate of Adam Yauch. “Brinker International produced, sponsored, and encouraged the creation and posting on social media of videos to promote Brinker’s ‘Chili’s’ restaurants that included musical compositions and sound recordings that were used without the permission of the rights owners,” said The Beastie Boys’ legal team One of the social media ads used the song and featured three characters wearing “70s-style wigs, fake mustaches, and sunglasses.” The band’s lawyers have argued that the video was clearly a parody of the ‘Sabotage’ video and falsely leads viewers to believe the band endorses the company. The Beastie Boys are seeking $150,000 in damages and for the commercials to be taken down, as the never licensed or authorized the song’s use.
