Pop superstar Lizzo is facing a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement after she posted a snippet of an unreleased song on social media. The lawsuit was filed in California by the GRC Trust, which claims the singer unlawfully sampled the 1970s soul track Win or Lose (We Tried).
The dispute is over a song that had already generated controversy online due to a lyric referencing actress Sydney Sweeney.
Details of the Lawsuit
The GRC Trust, which owns the copyright to Win or Lose (We Tried) (originally recorded by soul singer Sam Dees), is suing Lizzo for lost profits.
- The Claim: The GRC Trust claims Lizzo “obtained profits they would not have realised but for their infringement” of their song, despite the track not being commercially released or registered with royalty societies.
- Lizzo’s Response: Lizzo’s spokesperson expressed surprise, stating: “To be clear, the song has never been commercially released or monetised, and no decision has been made at this time regarding any future commercial release of the song.”
- Legal Action: The GRC Trust’s lawyers stated they “attempted informal resolution of the dispute” but reached an impasse, necessitating the court filing. They are seeking an injunction to block further distribution and a financial settlement equal to all profits and GRC’s losses.
Lizzo has since scrubbed the original posts from her social media accounts.
Social and Political Controversy
The song, which fans have dubbed “Good Jeans” or “I’m Goin’ In Till October,” first went viral in August due to its lyrics referencing actress Sydney Sweeney’s advertisement campaign for American Eagle Jeans.
- The Lyric: Lizzo’s song included the line: “I got good jeans like I’m Sydney.”
- The Backlash: The American Eagle campaign itself became a political talking point, with some critics accusing the company of promoting white beauty standards.
- Lizzo’s Stance: Lizzo later made her position clear in a follow-up video that mocked the right-wing response to Sweeney’s advertisement, opening with a clip of a Fox News pundit criticizing the “woke agenda.”
History of Copyright Claims
This is not the first time Lizzo has faced a copyright claim:
- 2019 Lawsuit: Three producers sued her over her breakout hit Truth Hurts, claiming the track was based on an earlier song they had written with her in 2017. That case was later dismissed after an out-of-court agreement.
- Viral Lyric Credit: Singer Mina Lioness also claimed Lizzo had lifted the Truth Hurts viral lyric, “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch,” from one of her social media posts. Lizzo ultimately credited Lioness as a co-writer on the song.
Separately, the GRC Trust is also suing rapper Kanye West over his sample of another Sam Dees song, Just Out Of My Reach, on his recent track Lord Lift Me Up.
Source: BBC
Related Posts:
LIZZO BREAKS SILENCE ON HARASSMENT LAWSUIT, CLAIMS SHE WAS “BLINDSIDED” BY ALLEGATIONS
Spotify launches “Culture Club” Podcast with the pulse of Afrobeats
