Joseph Strange, a former sound engineer for American rapper Eminem, has been criminally charged with copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen property for allegedly leaking and selling 25 unreleased songs for $50,000 worth of Bitcoin. The charges, filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, highlight the growing intersection of digital assets and intellectual property crimes.
The Bitcoin-Fueled Copyright Offense
Strange, 46, worked at Eminem's studio in Ferndale, Michigan, for four years until his termination in 2021. His severance agreement explicitly prohibited him from distributing or trading any of the rapper's unreleased music. Despite this, prosecutors allege that in 2024, Strange sold 25 songs—written by Eminem between 1999 and 2018—to a Canadian buyer for 50,000 US dollars in Bitcoin. The buyer later claimed the cryptocurrency was crowdfunded by a group of Eminem fans.
Leak Discovery and FBI Investigation
The leak came to light when current employees at Eminem's studio noticed the songs being played on YouTube and Reddit. They identified the music as originating from hard drives stored in the studio, which are never connected to the internet for security reasons. An FBI affidavit stated: “Employees were able to identify the music as having been stored on hard drives in the studio in Ferndale. These hard drives are not connected to the internet for security reasons.” After Eminem became aware of the leak, one of his employees posted a warning on social media, prompting a tipster to identify the Canadian buyer. The FBI raided Strange's home in January 2025, recovering original handwritten lyric sheets and other evidence.
Legal Consequences and Defense
Strange faces two federal counts: copyright infringement (maximum 5 years) and interstate transportation of stolen goods (maximum 10 years). His attorney stated, “He will seek justice and fairness in the courtroom.” This case underscores how cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can facilitate illicit transactions in the music industry, while also reigniting debates over regulatory oversight of digital payments. Notably, Eminem has previously embraced crypto and NFTs, but the unauthorized leak of his unreleased work marks a dark chapter in his relationship with blockchain technology.