Syl Johnson, who also complains that he is not credited in 'The Joy', wants all copies of the duo's collaborative album to be impounded.
- October 18, 2011
AceShowbiz -
Jay-Z and Kanye West's joint album meets another problem. Soul/blues icon Syl Johnson has filed a formal complaint against the duo for sampling one of his songs on their "Watch the Throne" album without permission.
Johnson claimed that his 1967 hit "Different Strokes" was used in Kanye and Jay-Z's deluxe-edition song "The Joy". Johnson, who filed the complaint in Illinois federal court on Friday, October 14, said his name was not mentioned in the album's liner notes.
This complaint is the extension of a copyright infringement allegation that was issued by Numero Uno Group in late August. The record label threatened to file a lawsuit on behalf of Johnson. Furthermore, it was claimed that West first tried to sample the song for his solo album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", but he did not get a clearance. The fact that the sample was eventually used in another album is deemed an example of "knowing" and "willful" misappropriation.
Johnson demands all "Throne" copies to be impounded and the full accounting of sale and publishing money, including punitive damages, to be presented.
