Beastie Boys’ $1.7M verdict against Monster stands

A federal judge on Thursday refused to throw out Beastie Boys’ against Monster Beverage over the energy drink company’s use of the hip-hop group’s music in a promotional video without permission.

In a 69-page decision, US District Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan said there was “ample basis” to believe the video could confuse people into believing incorrectly that Beastie Boys, a 2012 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, had endorsed Monster energy drinks.

He also said jurors could infer that Monster intended to deceive viewers and benefit from its apparent association with a group “particularly popular among young men, Monster’s target demographic.”

The roughly four-minute “megamix” video was put together by the disk jockey Z-Trip, and included excerpts from five Beastie Boys songs.

Monster conceded before the trial it was liable for copyright infringement, but that Beastie Boys didn’t deserve the $2.5 million of damages it sought.