MUMBAI: After being surrounded by controversies recently, teen pop sensation Justin Bieber is facing a tough time yet again. The singer and Canadian pop star and R&B singer Usher have been sued for $ 10 million for allegedly stealing a tune for ‘Somebody to Love’.
The copyright infringement lawsuit filed by rapper Devin Copeland and writing partner Mareio Overton alleges that they wrote and recorded a song called ‘Somebody to Love’ in 2008 and later played it for some talent scouts who they claim played it for R&B superstar Usher – and that a similar tune by the same name, performed by Usher and Bieber, ended up on a Bieber CD in 2010.
In a complaint filed on 2 May in the federal court in Norfolk, Copeland and Overton allege that “Without any authority or consent, (manager Jonetta Patton and Usher) conspired with songwriters and producers to directly copy plaintiffs’ song ‘Somebody To Love’ intending to appropriate plaintiffs’ intellectual property as their own.”
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According to Copeland, better known by his stage name ‘Devin the Dude’ the song ‘Somebody to Love’ features on his ‘My Story II’ album.
As per reports, a lawyer for Bieber stated that he had read the complaint but did not comment.
Copeland and Overton are reportedly asking for at least 10 million dollars in damages for alleged copyright infringement as well as for a permanent injunction preventing Bieber, Usher and their fellow defendants from laying any further claim to the song’s copyright.
Meanwhile, 19- year old Beiber, who is currently in the Middle East on his ‘Believe’ tour was reportedly attacked while singing on stage in Dubai.
The singer was belting out his final track ‘Believe’ from behind a grand piano when the man rushed over to grab the musician. While Bieber was shaken, he was unhurt, and the band finished the song while the fan was removed from the stage. He later returned to the stage for an encore performance of his hit songs ‘Boyfriend’ and ‘Baby’.
