The Black Keys have settled legal claims with Pizza Hut and Home Depot over copyright infringement. The US blues-rock duo sued both companies in June this year, saying their music had been used in TV adverts without their permission. The pizza chain was alleged to have used "significant portions" o...
The Black Keys have settled legal claims with Pizza Hut and Home Depot over copyright infringement.
The US blues-rock duo sued both companies in June this year, saying their music had been used in TV adverts without their permission. The pizza chain was alleged to have used “significant portions” of their track ‘Gold On The Ceiling’, while they claimed the DIY chain had used ‘Lonely Boy’ to sell power tools.
In the original claim, the band said the adverts had made use of slightly-amended ‘soundalike’ versions of the songs in a “brazen and improper effort to capitalize on plaintiffs’ hard-earned success.” But both companies strenuously denied the allegations and requested that the band pay their legal fees if they won the case.
However, both claims have been settled out of court, according to BBC News. Lawyers for the band told a federal judge in Los Angeles of the Pizza Hut settlement on Monday (November 26), while the Home Depot agreement was made earlier this month.
Neither company has commented on any settlement. The tracks in question both featured on the duo’s breakthrough seventh album, which has sold more than a million copies. Watch the video for ‘Lonely Boy’ below.
You can read an exclusive Album By Album feature with The Black Keys in the current issue of Uncut.
