Back in 2013, music companies Golden Withers Music and Musidex Music sent a cease and desist letter over to Kendrick Lamar and Top Dog Entertainment stating that the rapper’s song “I Do This” infringed upon one of their copyrights. Despite sending the letter, Kendrick continued to distribute the song, because he claimed that it was an original work of art. Later, Golden Withers Music and Musidex Music filed a lawsuit demanding an injunction against the rapper for continuing to profit from the song and wanted him to pay the maximum amount in damages for illegally using their song “Don’t You Want to Stay” which was released by Bill Withers in 1975.
The Jasmine Brand:
“Kendrick responded, explaining his track “I Do This” was independently created by him and the other producers without any reference or use of the other song in question.
He said if there are similarities in the two songs, those similarities are not able to be copyrighted due to them being common.”
Thankfully, the lawsuit has been settled! On November 14th, the plaintiff filed documents stating that the ‘suit had been settled. The details remain confidential, however it is clear that one of the conditions of the settlement is that the case will be closed…forevahhh! Apparently, the companies waited too long past the statute of limitations to sue Kendrick, anyway. Therefore the rapper demanded that the lawsuit be thrown out and that they pay his legal fees.
I guess Kendrick was talking about winning lawsuits in “I Do This,” huh?
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Source: http://thejasminebrand.com/2016/11/23/exclusive-kendrick-lamar-settles-lawsuit-over-allegations-he-ripped-off-70s-musician/
