By Alyssa Yoshino. On March 4, 2022, Sound and Color, LLC filed a lawsuit against Sam Smith, Normani, and various other recording and publishing companies alleging copyright infringement of the song “Dancing with Strangers,” formerly known as “Dancing with a Stranger,” written in 2015 by Jordan Vincent, Christopher Miranda, and Rosco Banlaoi. Vincent, Miranda, and Banlaoi are currently in the process of assigning their copyright in “Dancing with Strangers” to Sound and Color, LLC.  Plaintiffs allege that Sam Smith and Normani’s 2019 hit “Dancing with a Stranger” infringes the copyright to “Dancing with Strangers.” According to the Complaint, Smith and Normani’s … Continue reading Sound and Color, LLC v. Sam Smith, Normani: Does “Dancing with a Stranger” infringe “Dancing with Strangers”?

By Alyssa Yoshino. Dua Lipa was hit with two copyright infringement lawsuits in the first week of March 2022. The first was filed by the members of the band Artikal Sound System, a Florida-based reggae band, who allege that Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” infringes their song “Live Your Life.” Artikal Sound System filed the lawsuit on March 1, 2022, in the Central District of California. The second lawsuit was filed by the composers of the song “Wiggle and Giggle All Night,” L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer through their respective companies, alleging that “Levitating” infringes “Wiggle and Giggle All Night” and … Continue reading Cope v. Lipa: Does Dua Lipa’s hit “Levitating” infringe Artikal Sound System’s copyright for “Live Your Life”

On July 27, 2021, Country singer Jake Owen (Joshua Ryan Owen) was sued in Nashville federal court for alleged copyright infringement involving his 2020 No. 1 country song “Made for You.” Songwriters Alexander Cardinale and Morgan Reid allege that Owen’s “Made for You” copied significant portions of its structure and lyrics from their song “Made for You” released in 2014. They later licensed their song for a Coca Cola commercial. The lawsuit also names as defendants the other songwriters Benjy Davis, Joey Hyde and Neil Medley, plus Big Loud Records. Interestingly, Owen told Billboard that his song’s creation stems from … Continue reading Cardinale, Reid sue Jake Owen over alleged copyright infringement from No. 1 hit “Made for You”

According to Hollywood Reporter on Aug. 20, 2021, Andre Sims’ reportedly settled his copyright lawsuit against H.E.R., DJ Camper, Justin Love and Sony Music Entertainment, for H.E.R.’s song “Focus,” which allegedly infringed the copyright to Sims’ song “Endless Minds.” As you can probably tell in listening to the two songs, there is a good deal of similarity between the two songs. According to the Hollywood Reporter, “[d]uring an Instagram Live video, Camper (real name Darhyl Camper Jr.) said Sims’ song “Endless Minds” did inspire the melody of “Focus,” which he co-wrote with H.E.R. (real name Gabriella Wilson) and Love (real name … Continue reading Andre Sims Settles Copyright Suit Against H.E.R. (Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson)

On Aug. 11, 2011, Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower ruled that Kirk Johnston’s copyright lawsuit against Nickelback band members Chad Kroeger, Michael Kroeger, Ryan Peake, and Daniel Adair,, as well as Roadrunner Records, Inc. and Warner Chappell Music, Inc., can proceed forward. Judge Hightower ruled that Johnston’s complaint alleged sufficient facts to state a claim that the Nickelback Defendants’ song “Rockstar” infringed the copyright to Johnston’s song “Rockstar.” However, Judge Hightower recommended the dismissal of the lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., the producer of concerts. Snowblind Revival (Kirk Johnston), “Rockstar” Nickelback, “Rockstar” As summarized by Magistrate Judge Hightower, Johnston alleges the following … Continue reading Johnston v. Kroeger: music suit against Nickelback proceeds forward in Texas