In August 2008, Virgin Records tried to sue the band 30 Second to Mars, headed by front-man/actor Jared Leto (Fight Club, Mr. Nobody), for $30m.

Over the next eight and a half months, Leto and the band would head into the studio to record their third album, This Is War, both without the backing of their label, and with the $30m. lawsuit still hanging over their heads.

Artifact is directed by Jared Leto, under the pseudonym of Bartholomew Cubbins (a recurring character in the Dr. Seuss universe).