A New York judge says the maker of the Monster Energy drink must pay US$668,000 of the Beastie Boys' legal fees after the rappers chose to win at all costs in their copyright violation trial.
The judge's ruling on Monday says the singers chose a "Cadillac Escalade" litigation route rather than a "Honda Civic" route. He says they'll turn a profit in the case.
Last June, the Beastie Boys won a $1.7 million verdict from a federal jury weighing the value of five songs used by Corona, California-based Monster Energy Co. without authorisation in a video. The group sought $2.4 million in legal fees from Monster.
Monster hasn't commented.
In 1986, the Beastie Boys topped the charts with their debut album, "Licensed to Ill."
