Will Rick Ross Sue Other Artists For Copyright Infringement?
Everyday I'm Verbing (i.e., using a verb)Three More (potential) Copyright Infringement Lawsuits Over The 2 Words That Rick Ross Thinks He Owns - "Everyday I'm."Music of Jeremy Fisher, Little Big, Maysa and Rick Ross._____________________________________________________________________In my post from Wednesday, March 26, 2014, I discussed the music copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Rick Ross against LMFAO reported by the Hollywood Reporter.I mentioned the COMPLAINT filed by Rick Ross' attorneys and especially the first sentence in the COMPLAINT that mentioned "music" or "lyrics:"
"'Party Rock Anthem' copies, interpolates the lyrics, underlying music and beat of 'Hustlin'..."
I analyzed Rick Ross' Hustlin' (2006) and LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem (2011) and took issue with the allegations in Rick Ross' complaint, specifically that sentence from The Complaint. My conclusions about that loaded sentence included:
1. Party Rock Anthem did NOT copy the lyrics of 'Hustlin'..."2. Party Rock Anthem did NOT copy the underlying music of 'Hustlin'..."3. Party Rock Anthem did NOT copy the beat of 'Hustlin'..."4. Party Rock Anthem did NOT interpolate the lyrics of 'Hustlin'..."5. Party Rock Anthem did NOT interpolate the underlying music of 'Hustlin'..."6. Party Rock Anthem did NOT interpolate the beat of 'Hustlin'..."7. Party Rock Anthem did NOT copy, interpolate the lyrics of 'Hustlin'..."8. Party Rock Anthem did NOT copy, interpolate the underlying music of 'Hustlin'..."9. Party Rock Anthem did NOT copy, interpolate the beat of 'Hustlin'..."
_____________________________________________________________________I mentioned that I had a few suggestions for Rick Ross' attorneys, suggestions are based on the following:
1. The infamous Rick Ross sentence -"'Party Rock Anthem' copies, interpolates the lyrics, underlying music and beat of 'Hustlin'..."- from the COMPLAINT is inaccurate. In the nine (9) points above, I refute the allegations by Rick Ross. The best but farfetched scenario for Rick Ross would be that LMFAO copied two uncopyrightable words - "everyday I'm."2. Rick Ross sang "everyday I'm" in 2006.3. LMFAO sang "everyday I'm" in 2011 and were sued by Rick Ross because of their use of "everyday I'm."4. The artist, Maysa, sang "everyday I'm" in 2008, AFTER Rick Ross.5. The artist, Jeremy Fisher, sang "everyday I'm" in 2010, AFTER Rick Ross.6. The band, "Little Big," sang "everyday I'm" in 2013, AFTER Rick Ross.7. Using a minuscule degree of perspicacity similar to that used to sue LMFAO, it would follow that Rick Ross could initiate three (3) more copyright infringement lawsuits against the artists above. As with the case against LMFAO, suspension of credibility and rationality would be an important consideration before filing these lawsuits as well.
_____________________________________________________________________ Let's identify the new lawsuits that could be filed against Maysa, Jeremy Fisher and Little Big for using the two (2) Rick Ross copyrighted words,
"everyday I'm."
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1. Maysa
Maysa released Grateful in 2008. Maysa clearly sings "everyday I'm" at 3.04 - 3.07.In my opinion, Maysa does NOT copy, interpolate the lyrics, underlying music and beat of 'Hustlin'." But if Rick Ross can sue LMFAO who have also not copied or interpolated 'Hustlin'," I would expect him to sue others, such as Maysa, who have used the same non-copyrightable words, "everyday I'm."To the best of my knowledge, Maysa has not yet been sued by Rick Ross._____________________________________________________________________
2. Jeremy Fisher
Jeremy Fisher released Come Fly Away in 2010. Jeremy Fisher clearly sings "everyday I'm" at 0.25 - 0.29. In context, "everyday I'm" is heard within:"Like a sparrow on a wire, singing the same song everyday, I'm feeling restless but I'm tired..."In my opinion, Jeremy Fisher does NOT copy, interpolate the lyrics, underlying music and beat of 'Hustlin'." But if Rick Ross can sue LMFAO who have also not copied or interpolated 'Hustlin'," I would expect Rick Ross and his attorneys to sue Jeremy Fisher and others who have used the same uncopyrightable words, "everyday I'm."To the best of my knowledge, Jeremy Fisher has not yet been sued by Rick Ross._____________________________________________________________________
Now Comes Big & Blatant Copyright Infringement (by Rick Ross standards)
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3. Little Big
When Rick Ross and his imaginative lawyers hear Little Big with their loud and multiple "everyday I'm" statements, they'll know that they are in Plaintiff Heaven as Little Big have so boldly gone where LMFAO so daintily tread.Little Big released Everyday I'm Drinking in 2013. Little Big clearly sing "everyday I'm" eighteen (18) times! Or, as Rick Ross' attorneys might state it,
"Little Big's Everyday I'm Drinking (2013) copies, interpolates the lyrics, underlying music and beat of Rick Ross' Hustlin' (2006)..."
Listen to Little Big's Everyday I'm Drinking (2013) and one clearly hears "everyday I'm" eighteen (18) times. If Rick Ross owns copyright in "everyday I'm" as his lawyers have alleged in their COMPLAINT, then this is the quintessential copyright infringement goldmine ("We struck gold!") for them.
0.39 everyday I'm (drinking)0.40 everyday I'm (drinking)0.42 everyday I'm (drinking) (I'm drinking) everyday0.45 everyday I'm (drinking)0.46 everyday I'm (drinking)0.48 everyday I'm (drinking) (I'm drinking) everyday1.06 everyday I'm (drinking)1.07 everyday I'm (drinking)1.09 everyday I'm (drinking) (I'm drinking) everyday1.13 everyday I'm (drinking)1.14 everyday I'm (drinking)1.16 everyday I'm (drinking) (I'm drinking) everyday2.15 everyday I'm (drinking)2.16 everyday I'm (drinking)2.18 everyday I'm (drinking) (I'm drinking) everyday2.21 everyday I'm (drinking)2.22 everyday I'm (drinking)2.24 everyday I'm (drinking) (I'm drinking) everyday
In my opinion, Little Big do NOT copy, interpolate the lyrics, underlying music and beat of 'Hustlin'." But if Rick Ross can sue LMFAO who have also not copied or interpolated 'Hustlin'," I would expect him to sue others, such as Little Big, who have used the same not copyrightable words, "everyday I'm."To the best of my knowledge, Little Big have not yet been sued by Rick Ross._____________________________________________________________________What do you think about these potential lawsuits for potential plaintiff (again) Rick Ross? It cannot be denied that Rick Ross sang/expressed "everyday I'm" before LMFAO, Maysa, Jeremy Fisher and Little Big.Rick Ross has not yet sued Maysa or Jeremy Fisher. Maysa and Jeremy Fisher, like LMFAO, barely use the words, "everyday I'm" in their songs.But Little Big.... In Facebook-ese expression: Wow. Oh. Wow. Little Big have intentionally, forcefully and boisterously sung the Rick Ross words, "Everyday I'm," six times in every one of their choruses throughout their song, Everyday I'm Drinking (2013). Based on Rick Ross' lawyers' logic I'm surprised that Little Big have gone unsued and unscathed for this long.As I hinted in my previous post (Wednesday, March 26, 2014), Rick Ross may, however, be sued for his original expression in Hustlin' (2006).The points of these posts are simply to examine expression from the viewpoints of originality, creativity and law, and critique musical/textual/legal arguments espoused by others. (I am not a party to this lawsuit or affiliated with any party in this lawsuit. Therefore, I feel it is appropriate to weigh in on the matters presented above.)