Rick Ross is suing LMFAO for copyright infringement.
The rapper has filed a lawsuit against the duo over a lyric used in their 2011 track ‘Party Rock Anthem’.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ross claims that the phrase “Every day I’m shufflin” from LMFAO’s hit single is imitative of his own 2006 track ‘Hustlin”, in which he repeatedly uses the lyric “Everyday I’m hustlin'”.
Ross and the song’s composer Jermaine Jackson have filed the case against the group – made up of uncle and nephew Redfoo and Sky Blu – at a Florida federal court over the unauthorised use of the line.
The lawsuit states: “The use of ‘Hustlin” in ‘Party Rock Anthem’ is readily apparent, despite the slight change from “Everyday I’m hustlin'”…’ to “Everyday I’m shufflin…'” and constitutes, inter alia, the creation of an unauthorised derivative work.”
It also mentions that the use of the phrase “is an obvious attempt to capitalise on the fame and success of ‘Hustlin'”, pointing out that the lyric is even performed in a similar manner to Ross.
The lawsuit continues: “The phrase is so important to the success of ‘Party Rock Anthem’, that LMFAO launched a highly successful clothing line, Party Rock Clothing, that features the phrase on T-shirts and other clothing items.”
Ross is asking for an injunction and statutory damages, claiming that LMFAO have ignored previous warnings over the alleged infringement.
Source: Digital Spy
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