Lawsuit over Jay-Z song going to trialWENN
Rap superstar Jay-Z is preparing to head to trial over allegations that his hit song "Big Pimpin'" infringes the copyright of an Egyptian song dating back to 1957.
Osama Ahmed Fahmy co-owns the rights to his uncle Baligh Hamdy's composition "Khosara, Khosara," and he initially sued the hip-hop icon in 2007, claiming Jay-Z and producer Timbaland used the track's melody for the 2000 chart smash "Big Pimpin'."
Bing: Jay-Z's music
Jay-Z's record label bosses at EMI argued that the then-50-year-old song was governed by the 1909 Copyright Act, which allows works to be protected by law for 28 years from the date of release, and a Los Angeles court judge ruled in their favor earlier this year.
However, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder subsequently decided Fahmy could still claim damages for any infringements that occurred up to three years before he filed suit, and the two parties will return to court to determine whether Jay-Z directly profited from using "Big Pimpin'" in his live performances.
In court documents filed earlier this month, Judge Snyder wrote, "There is no record evidence that Jay-Z used 'Big Pimpin'' in his advertisements for a particular concert or concert series, or that 'Big Pimpin'' was performed at every concert. It is a question of fact whether Jay-Z's concert revenues should be considered direct or indirect ... it is up to a jury to decide. Accordingly, the court finds that there is a triable issue whether Jay-Z's concert revenues constitute direct profits from his infringing live performances of 'Big Pimpin'' for purposes of the Copyright Act."
Judge Snyder's decision to proceed with the case means Jay-Z and EMI must provide more information on "both the manner of advertising concerts as well as the revenues derived" at a forthcoming pretrial hearing.
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