Britney Spears is fcaing a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by an Indiana songwriter Steve Wallace
- May 12, 2005
AceShowbiz - Pop diva Britney Spears is facing a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Steve Wallace, an Indiana songwriter claims to write the popstar's song "Sometimes" 15 years ago. Due to that fact, Wallace (34), who writes pop, country and gospel songs, filed a complaint May 5 in federal court against Spears, her album promoter, Sony/BMG Music Publishing Inc., and recording and publishing companies affiliated with the singer.
The complaint acknowledges that few weeks after writing the song, Wallace placed his work in a sealed envelope and obtained a postmark. He then shopped the song around to publishers in 1994 and submitted it to a lyric contest in Pennsylvania in 1997. He, in fact, formally copyright his song in 2003. As to strengthen his allegation, Wallace also submitted a copy of what he claims is an e-mail from Spears in which she wrote: "I now know for a fact that you wrote sometimes. But there's nothing I can do about it. That's all I can say about it."
As a further evidence, Spears, obtained a U.S. copyright for "Sometimes" on January 22, 1999, has a nearly the same song lyrics with those written by Wallace. Based on that fact, Wallace, through his attorney John Ritchison, is seeking $150,000 for each instance in which his copyright was infringed upon. Ritchison said he tried to settle the dispute out of court, seeking recognition and licensing or payments for Wallace. Yet, Spears' attorneys replied with a one-page document denying Wallace's claim.
