After a district judge dismissed the case last year, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says Bieber's song and the plaintiffs' version have a 'strikingly similar melody.'
- June 19, 2015
AceShowbiz -
Justin Bieber and Usher must face a $10 million copyright infringement lawsuit over their collaboration "Somebody to Love". A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday, June 18 that the case which was previously dismissed could now move forward.
The suit was originally filed in 2013 by R&B singer Devin Copeland, known as De Rico, and his songwriting partner Mareio Oberton, who claimed that Bieber's 2008 song from his "My World 2.0" album sounded too similar to their own song of the same name. The case was then tossed out last year by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen who said Bieber and Copeland's versions differed significantly in tone and lyrical content.
However, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia found that Bieber's song and Copeland's version shared "almost identical rhythm" and a "strikingly similar melody." They decided to revive the suit by a 3-0 vote.
"After listening to the Copeland song and the Bieber and Usher songs as wholes, we conclude that their choruses are similar enough and also significant enough that a reasonable jury could find the songs intrinsically similar," read the ruling.
