Black Keys sue Pizza Hut and Home Depot over song use
- Published
US rock duo The Black Keys are suing Pizza Hut and DIY chain Home Depot for allegedly using their songs in adverts without their permission.
Legal papers filed in Los Angeles claim the pizza chain used "significant portions" of the band's hit Gold On The Ceiling to advertise a new product.
A second legal claim alleges Home Depot used the song Lonely Boy in an advert for power tools.
The band are seeking an end to the use of the songs and financial damages.
Lawyers for the band said the adverts were "a brazen and improper effort to capitalize on plaintiffs' hard-earned success".
They added that they had sent letters to both companies in May requesting they withdraw the adverts, but claim these were ignored.
Both of the tracks in question appeared on the group's seventh album, El Camino, which was released last year.
Producer Danger Mouse, who co-wrote the album - is also suing the companies.
A spokesman for Home Depot told the Associated Press: "We haven't seen the complaint yet, but respect for intellectual property rights is a matter we take very seriously."
A Pizza Hut spokesman directed inquiries to its advert's creators, The Martin Agency, who said the company did not respond to pending lawsuits.