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

Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, and Adam Yauch's estate claim Brinker International produced and posted social media videos promoting Chili's featuring "Sabotage" without permission, beginning in November 2022. The lawsuit alleges infringement of the song's composition, recording, and original music video.

The group emphasizes that they typically don't license their music for advertising purposes, with Adam Yauch's will specifically prohibiting such commercial use. However, previous licensing examples like the Destiny 2 trailer featuring "Sabotage" appear to contradict this stance.

This case highlights growing concerns around social media music usage in commercial content. Platform music libraries are cleared for personal use only, not commercial purposes—a distinction many companies overlook. Similar cases include:

• Monster Energy's $1.7 million payment to Beastie Boys in 2014 for unauthorized music use
• Sony Music's lawsuit against OFRA Cosmetics in late 2023 for social media infringement
• Marriott's legal battle with Sony Music in May over "rampant infringement"

The restaurant industry's challenging operating environment has pushed many businesses toward aggressive social media marketing, but proper music licensing remains crucial for avoiding legal complications.

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