NEW YORK (AP) β A New York judge says the maker of the Monster Energy drink must pay $668,000 of the Beastie Boys’ legal fees after the rappers chose to win at all costs in their copyright violation trial.
The judge wrote in a ruling Monday the singers chose a “Cadillac Escalade” litigation route rather than a “Honda Civic” route. He says they’ll turn a profit in the case.
Last June, the Beastie Boys won a $1.7 million verdict from a federal jury weighing the value of five songs used by Corona, California-based Monster Energy Co. without authorization in a video. The group sought $2.4 million in legal fees from Monster.
Monster hasn’t commented.
In 1986, the Beastie Boys topped the charts with their debut album, “Licensed to Ill.” It included the anthem “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)”
