NEW ORLEANS — A new copyright lawsuit aims at Beyoncé and New Orleans bounce artist Big Freedia. The phrase 'release a wiggle' is at the center of the claim – from a song made 22 years ago.
It's the case of the sampled songs – a former bounce group is claiming Beyoncé, Big Freedia, and others knowingly infringed on a song they recorded in 2002.
In the 53-page lawsuit, a lawyer for Da Showstoppaz said Big Freedia illegally sampled their song "Release A Wiggle" when she released her 2014 song "Explode" – that song was later sampled by Beyoncé for her hit song "Break My Soul".
"It's not the same song," said Joshua Starkman, who runs a creative agency and works with local musicians and creatives about intellectual property.
“It has a house beat, there are so many elements that are different than what they are claiming the intellectual property right is,” he said.
According to the suit, Da Showstoppaz said Beyoncé and Freedia's song borrows several key lyrics from their song – and claim Freedia's roots in New Orleans gave her 'access to Da Showstoppaz release a wiggle."
Starkman said it comes down to a cultural issue.
"In a way, no one owns that. It's like who made up ‘Who Dat’ who made up ‘Do what you wanna’".
The plaintiffs want to be credited on both the song "Explode" and "Break My Soul". They also want royalties for any future use of both songs.
Starkman said the case is a prime example of why it's important for artists and creatives need to copyright and register their creations, "dot the I’s and cross the t’s".
We reached out to representatives for Big Freedia and did not immediately hear back.
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