Justin Bieber Wins Copyright Lawsuit, But Not Out Of Woods Yet
The story began in 2013 when singer Devin “De Rico” Copeland and writer Mareio Overton filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Justin Bieber and his mentor Usher. According to Rolling Stone, the suit claims the artists stole the beat, title and time signature for Bieber’s hit song “Somebody To Love”.
“Somebody To Love” was released in 2010, though Copeland and Overton alleged that they gave the song to Jonetta Patton, Usher’s mother and former manager, in 2008. It is then alleged that Bieber received the demo in 2009 and began recording “Somebody To Love” shortly thereafter.
U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen first dismissed the case in 2014, citing lack of evidence to establish Bieber and Usher’s access to Copeland and Overton’s copy of the song. The case was revived when a federal appeals court found that both songs’ choruses may be “intrinsically similar,” according to Reuters. In the end, Judge Allen again dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning plaintiff’s cannot bring the case again.
More battles on the horizon
While Bieber and Usher beat the copyright infringement lawsuit that was initially filed four years ago, Bieber has another legal battle coming up. It’s uncertain if the success he found in his former case will apply to the new one.
In 2016, Bieber was sued by Casey Dienel for alleged infringement concerning the hit song “Sorry,” which the plaintiff asserts is stolen from the track “Ring the Bell.” Bieber isn’t the only artist involved, though, as Skrillex, as well as the producers, publishers, record labels and distributors of the song are listed on the filing.according to ABC News, Dienel, whose stage name is White Hinterland, is seeking a declaration from the defendants the song was stolen, as well as remuneration for damages. Beliebers are hoping that Justin can secure a similar outcome in this litigation.
Do you have any questions? Would you like to discuss the matter further? If so, please contact me, Shane Birnbaum, at 201-806-3364.
