Beastie Boys claim Chili’s owner used hit “Sabotage” in ads without permission

The Beastie Boys have sued restaurant owner Brinker International in a New York federal court. Brinker claims he used the legendary rap trio’s 1994 song “Sabotage” to advertise the Chili’s chain without their permission.

In their complaint filed Wednesday, the group said Brinker unlawfully used the word “sabotage” in Chili’s social media ads, falsely implying that the Beastie Boys supported the casual dining restaurants.

Attorneys for the Beastie Boys and spokespeople for Brinker did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit Thursday.

The Beastie Boys formed in New York City in 1981 and disbanded in 2012 after founding member Adam “MCA” Yauch died of cancer. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year.

“Sabotage” was a single from the group’s 1994 album “Ill Communication” and became famous through its accompanying music video, a parody of 1970s television police dramas.

The group’s lawsuit alleges that Brinker posted Chili’s ads titled “Sabotage” on social media without a license.

It went on to say that one of the ads featured “three figures wearing obvious ’70s-style wigs, fake moustaches and sunglasses” that were “designed to evoke in the public’s minds scenes from the plaintiff’s well-known official ‘sabotage’ video.”

“Plaintiffs do not license ‘Sabotage’ or their other intellectual property for third-party product advertising purposes, and late Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch included a clause in his will prohibiting such uses,” the lawsuit states.

The Beastie Boys accused Brinker of violating their copyright and trademark rights. They demanded at least $150,000 in damages and an injunction prohibiting Brinker from using their works.

In 2014, the group won $1.7 million in compensation from energy drink manufacturer Monster Beverage for using its music without permission.