Adam Yauch

GoldieBlox may have shot themselves in the foot if they wanted to appear as the victims in the ongoing saga surrounding their online advertising campaign that features the Beastie Boys song 'Girls.' After claiming that they are being sued by the surviving members of the rap group for copyright infringement, the company counter-sued, saying they had never infringed on any copyright. Now Mike D and Ad-Rock have hit back, saying they never sued anyone, but they're still facing a lawsuit.

Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock all agreed that they would never allow their work to be used on advertising

As intially reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the two remaining Beasties have penned an open letter to the company, in which they commend the advert and the company for their creativity, before stating that they agreed years ago to never allow their music to be used for advertising and finally saying that they had only ever enquired how the video was used without their permission, insisting that they had not taken the issue to the courts. Goldieblox on the other hand have taken the band to court, filing a complaint stating they never infringed on any copyright laws.

Continue reading: The Beastie Boys Aren't Suing GoldieBlox After All, But Goldieblox Are Still Suing The Beasties

A new book charting the story of the Beastie Boys, written by surviving members Mike D and Ad Rock, is to be published in 2015. The book will trace the rappers' origins as a New York high school punk band through to their induction into the Rock and Roll Fall of Fame, as well as reflecting on the death of MCA, aka Adam Yauch.

Yauch died from cancer aged 47 in May 2012, just weeks after the band had been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Musicians from around the globe paid tribute to the musician, with Moby calling him "a wonderful, generous, remarkable and inspiring man and friend." The new book will include contributions from writers exploring Yauch's musical legacy. 

Publishers Faber & Faber said the book was a landmark acquisition. "Beastie Boys have entertained us for years with classic albums like Paul's Boutique and Hello Nasty," said Faber's Lee Brackstone. "They will now entertain us on the page, in this book which celebrates the 30-plus years of their unique story and influence."

Continue reading: Mike D And Ad Rock To Tell The Beastie Boys Story In Memoir