An infringement lawsuit has been launched against the likes of T-Pain, DJ Khaled and Rick Ross, as well as a series of record labels and publishing companies, for allegedly lifting key elements from the back catalogue of New Orleans jazz group the Batiste Brothers.
Court documents obtained by All Hip Hop reveal that the 118-page lawsuit was filed in United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, last week by the band's representative, Paul Batiste, and it accuses a number of rappers, producer, record labels and more for illegally using the Batiste Brothers' music without permission or compensation. Some other defendants named in the suit include Pitbull, Ace Hood, Cash Money Records and Atlantic Records.
On top of allegedly producing an "immense number of songs infringing upon Plaintiff's catalog," the defendants are being targeted of using said offending tracks on multiple releases.
The suit brings up, for instance, T-Pain's "Freeze," which is said to feature elements "nearly identical" to the Batiste Brothers' "Sportsman's Paradise." Lawyers point out that not only did this appear on his 2008 LP Thr33 Ringz, but as instrumental accompaniment on T-Pain's "I Am T-Pain" voice app.
"Defendants have blatantly poached beats, lyrics, melodies and chords from Plaintiff's songs," the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit is seeking damages at an estimated $100 million.
Court documents obtained by All Hip Hop reveal that the 118-page lawsuit was filed in United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, last week by the band's representative, Paul Batiste, and it accuses a number of rappers, producer, record labels and more for illegally using the Batiste Brothers' music without permission or compensation. Some other defendants named in the suit include Pitbull, Ace Hood, Cash Money Records and Atlantic Records.
On top of allegedly producing an "immense number of songs infringing upon Plaintiff's catalog," the defendants are being targeted of using said offending tracks on multiple releases.
The suit brings up, for instance, T-Pain's "Freeze," which is said to feature elements "nearly identical" to the Batiste Brothers' "Sportsman's Paradise." Lawyers point out that not only did this appear on his 2008 LP Thr33 Ringz, but as instrumental accompaniment on T-Pain's "I Am T-Pain" voice app.
"Defendants have blatantly poached beats, lyrics, melodies and chords from Plaintiff's songs," the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit is seeking damages at an estimated $100 million.
