The Black Keys sues The Home Depot, Pizza Hut

Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys pose in the press room during the 2012 MTV Movie Awards on June 3, 2012, in Universal City, Calif.

/ Getty

(CBS/AP) The Black Keys has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against The Home Depot and Pizza Hut.

The rock band filed the federal lawsuits Thursday, claiming Home Depot did not have permission to use elements of the hit song in an ad promoting power tools and that Pizza Hut misused "Gold on the Ceiling" in a recent ad.

Both songs appeared on the rock group's seventh album, "El Camino," which was released last year.

"The experts confirmed that this was copyright infringement," band spokeswoman Mary Moyer said in a statement.

The cases seek unspecified damages of more than $75,000 apiece and an order preventing the continued use of the songs in the commercials.

"We haven't seen the complaint yet, but respect for intellectual property rights is a matter we take very seriously," said Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes.

Pizza Hut spokesman Christopher Fuller said the company also hasn't seen the case, but fully respects artists' rights.

The suits claim both companies were given written notices that the ads misused The Black Keys' music. The Home Depot ad touts Ryobi power tools, while the Pizza Hut ad touts its new "Cheesy Bites Pizza."

Neither company received permission to use musical elements from the songs. The ads do not include any vocals.

The Black Keys, meanwhile, will soon start work on a new album.

Drummer Patrick Carney recently told Rolling Stone, "We don't know when we'll be done but we're starting it in July. We might not finish it until March since we have to tour so much but we'll see. We don't know what's going on. After July, we'll be able to know how long it'll take."

[hypnotoad72]

Home Depot... why does that name sound familiar? I know there's a politician on their board of directors... but it's not like that one would be 100% behind this thievery. (yes, more than children downloading can be thieves, and some bumper stickers say how the RIAA is the biggest thief of them all... but there are a zillion tangents and contexts...)

[UForgotPoland]

Money Money Money!

[donretired]

OH BOO HOO

[theinsomniac]

Boo hoo? You condone stealing? A big company using an artist's material to hock their garbage should be a criminal offense in the same way that it would be if we stole a pizza or a power tool from their stores.

[hypnotoad72]

theinsomniac -

thank you.

It's nice to read posts from people who are actually civilized.

[cafenitro]

Good publicity and a just cause. Can't beat it. The Black Keys are a good band as well. I wish 'em luck. Wish someone would steal my band's music :-)