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New Orleans rapper Birdman is under fire for allegedly sampling other artists' songs without permission.
According to the Associated Press, the Cash Money co-founder faces a federal lawsuit claiming he used copyrighted songs without licensing agreements and without paying royalties.
The suit doesn't specify any of the copyrighted songs, but does say that Birdman, whose alias is Baby and real name is Bryan Williams, allegedly used the songs on his own albums as well as releases by Cash Money artists Lil' Wayne and the Big Tymers.
High-powered plaintiffs include WB Music Corp., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Cotillion Music Inc., Noontime Tunes and W.B.M. Music Corp.
According to court records, an attempt to serve Cash Money with a copy of the lawsuit on Dec. 3 was unsuccessful, as the plaintiffs' attorney encountered a vacant Cash Money office in a New Orleans suburb. Birdman has reportedly relocated to Miami.
The suit, filed on Oct. 29, also names Birdman's brother and Cash Money co-founder, Ronald Williams. It seeks an unnamed sum as well as interest and legal fees.
In other legal woes for the New Orleans mogul, Birdman and 15 members of his entourage were arrested in November and charged with possession of marijuana. He was released on $1,500 bond the following day (Nov. 28).
In non-legal news, Birdman's latest album, 5 * Stunna, debuted at No. 18, selling 86,000 copies in its first week. Meanwhile, surrogate son Lil' Wayne's The Leak EP debuted on SoundScan this week selling 2,400 copies. Weezy quietly released the EP on Christmas strictly via MP3 and without any promotion.
Source: sohh.com
According to the Associated Press, the Cash Money co-founder faces a federal lawsuit claiming he used copyrighted songs without licensing agreements and without paying royalties.
The suit doesn't specify any of the copyrighted songs, but does say that Birdman, whose alias is Baby and real name is Bryan Williams, allegedly used the songs on his own albums as well as releases by Cash Money artists Lil' Wayne and the Big Tymers.
High-powered plaintiffs include WB Music Corp., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Cotillion Music Inc., Noontime Tunes and W.B.M. Music Corp.
According to court records, an attempt to serve Cash Money with a copy of the lawsuit on Dec. 3 was unsuccessful, as the plaintiffs' attorney encountered a vacant Cash Money office in a New Orleans suburb. Birdman has reportedly relocated to Miami.
The suit, filed on Oct. 29, also names Birdman's brother and Cash Money co-founder, Ronald Williams. It seeks an unnamed sum as well as interest and legal fees.
In other legal woes for the New Orleans mogul, Birdman and 15 members of his entourage were arrested in November and charged with possession of marijuana. He was released on $1,500 bond the following day (Nov. 28).
In non-legal news, Birdman's latest album, 5 * Stunna, debuted at No. 18, selling 86,000 copies in its first week. Meanwhile, surrogate son Lil' Wayne's The Leak EP debuted on SoundScan this week selling 2,400 copies. Weezy quietly released the EP on Christmas strictly via MP3 and without any promotion.
Source: sohh.com