Lizzo Faces Lawsuit Over Sydney Sweeney Ad Reference Snippet Controversy
Lizzo, the acclaimed artist, faces a lawsuit linked to an unreleased song sampled from a 1980s track. The legal action was initiated by The GRC Trust, a Georgia-based company, and was filed in California on Tuesday.
Lawsuit Details
The lawsuit stems from a social media video posted by Lizzo in August. In this clip, she performed a snippet of a song tentatively titled “I’m Goin’ In Till October.” This performance included a sample from “Win or Lose (We Tried),” a song composed by Sam Dees.
Involved Parties
- Plaintiff: Jimmy Ginn, holder of publishing rights as per BMI’s database.
- Composer: Sam Dees, with numerous credits to his name.
- Defendant: Lizzo, alongside her record label, Atlantic Records.
Claims and Allegations
According to the complaint, Lizzo and Atlantic Records allegedly profited from the song without proper authorization. The GRC Trust asserts that they attempted to resolve the issue informally but were unable to reach an agreement, which led to the decision to file a lawsuit.
Legal Demands
The lawsuit seeks to recover any profits made by Lizzo and her label from the sampled song. Additionally, they are pursuing damages and attorney’s fees.
Lizzo’s Response
A representative for Lizzo expressed surprise over the lawsuit’s filing, stating, “To be clear, the song has never been commercially released or monetised.”
Context of Previous Cases
This incident is not isolated. In September, The GRC Trust also sued Kanye West for another alleged copyright infringement. This case involves sampling the track “Always Keep Your Love (Just Out of My Reach)” in West’s song “Lord Lift Me Up.”
Upcoming Legal Proceedings
A hearing for the Kanye West case is set for November 19, as his legal team seeks to have the case dismissed.
Lizzo’s Past Legal Issues
Lizzo has faced legal challenges in the past. She was sued over her hit song “Truth Hurts,” which dominated the Billboard 100 singles chart for seven weeks in 2019. That case was largely dismissed, and it revolved around a viral tweet from Mina Lioness, who later became a co-writer of the song.
