A former employee of Eminem has been charged with leaking the rapper’s music online.
Joseph Strange, who worked for the Grammy-winning rapper from 2007 to 2021, has been charged with criminal infringement of a copyright and interstate transportation of stolen goods in connection with the sale of Eminem’s unreleased music, according to U.S. attorney Julie Beck.
On Jan. 16, the FBI was contacted by an employee at Eminem’s — real name Marshall Mathers — studio in Ferndale, Michigan, after they found the “Houdini” artist’s unreleased music that he was still working on listed for sale on various websites, according to the criminal complaint. “The employees recognized this as an image taken directly from a hard drive in the Ferndale studio,” the news release stated.
The FBI eventually tracked down those who purchased Eminem’s unreleased music and they identified Strange as the seller.
“Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators and protecting their original work from reproduction and distribution by individuals who seek to profit from the creative output of others,” Beck said in a statement.
If convicted of criminal infringement of a copyright, Strange faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. As for the charge of interstate transportation of stolen goods, he could face a maximum of 10 years in prison.
A trial cannot be held on felony charges in a criminal complaint, so following an investigation, officials will determine whether to seek a felony indictment. Special agents of the FBI Oakland County Resident Agency are investigating the case.
“This investigation underscores the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding artists’ intellectual property from exploitation by individuals seeking to profit illegally,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Thanks to the cooperation of Mathers Music Studio, FBI agents from the Oakland County Resident Agency were able to swiftly enforce federal laws and ensure Joseph Strange was held accountable for his actions.”
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