Lady Gaga sued for copyright

2011-08-05 by taylormemer | 58 Comments
Pop mega star, Lady Gaga, is being sued over potential copyright infringement for her song “Judas” by the relatively unknown Chicago based songwriter Rebecca Francescatti who goes under the stage name “Rebecca F.”. It comes after discussions circulated earlier this year over the striking similarities between Gaga's track "Born This Way" and Madonna's "Express Yourself"

"Judas", which appears both in single format as well as on Gaga’s highly successful album Born This Way is being purported by Francescatti's defence as bearing both melodic and entitlement similarities with her own song "Juda", which first made appearance in 1999.

But the basis for the lawsuit stems not only from the assertion of sonic parallels, but largely from the collaborations each artist has had with sound engineer Brian Gaynor, who is claimed to be at the centre of the rip.

During 2005, Francescatti collaborated with Gaynor, who contributed to the mixdown of Francescatti's album It's All About You which itself featured a rerecorded version of "Juda" - Gaynor is noted upon information and belief to "not [be] a songwriter" during his time with Francescatti, according to the filed lawsuit. The document further goes onto elaborate Gaynor's role on Lady Gaga's latest studio album, where he "played bass, keys, co-wrote, and co-produc[ed] three tracks" as a member of the production house DJ White Shadow, which collectively contributed to the bulk of Born This Way's content.

Francescatti's attorney Christopher Niro told NBC Chicago that "The similarities of the work are too close to believe it’s a coincidence." He lacked optimism when asked of the about any potential resolutions stating, "These lawsuits are not resolved quickly, but it's a way for artists like my client to knock on the doors of the high and mighty."

Francescatti and her defence are seeking all damages and loss of profits incurred as a result of the infringement from Gaga; Gaynor; the production house which employed Gaynor, DJ White Shadow; and the worldwide distributors of Gaga’s music, Interscope Records and Universal Music.

TMZ provide convenient A/B track samples so you may gauge the distinctions for yourself.

http://www.tmz.com/2011/08/05/lady-gaga-judas-lawsuit-song-copyright-infringement-rebecca-f-juda/

The full claim may be read here:
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/08/04/Gaga.pdf

Tagged: Lady Gaga

Comments:Add a Comment 
HaydenDyson
August 6th 2011
1019 Comments


Im going to sue every band that sounds like every other band.
....like if one sounds like another idc who started it im just suing both

ziroth
August 6th 2011
1260 Comments


don't hear it at all, but they're both annoying as hell if that accounts for anything.

100% publicity stunt

CrackwhoreBatshit
August 6th 2011
95 Comments


Reminds me of the time I tried to sue the guy who stole "Hot Cross Buns" from me. That motherfucker drinks spiced buns through a straw now

Pharoh
August 6th 2011
3325 Comments


Lol lady gaga

lancebramsay
August 6th 2011
1585 Comments


and consequently Lady Gaga's music video for "Judas" was removed from Youtube for copyright
infringement.

gilmoregirls
August 6th 2011
190 Comments


the samples they posted sounded nothing alike

lancebramsay
August 6th 2011
1585 Comments


loly gaga

Trebor.
Emeritus
August 6th 2011
59815 Comments


Madonna should sue

gilmoregirls
August 6th 2011
190 Comments


nice 1

Pharoh
August 6th 2011
3325 Comments


Talent should sue

sublimefan1991
August 6th 2011
819 Comments


the fuck, they sound nothing alike.

taylormemer
August 6th 2011
4964 Comments


The problem may stem from the fact that the (30 sec) sample may not necessarily include what is being claimed as an infringement. Unfortunately these are the only samples provided thus far that I could find. If better examples come to light, I'll edit them in. Francescatti doesn't provide any sort of YouTube or other form of stream so it makes it a little more difficult.

Loanshark
August 6th 2011
333 Comments


"Francescatti and her defence are seeking all damages and loss of profits incurred as a result of the infringement from Gaga"

Seeing as how "Juda" has supposedly been around since 1999 and no one's heard of the song or the artist I'm waiting to see what outrageous cash sum this Francescatti and her lawyer are gonna whip out.

R6Rider
August 6th 2011
5282 Comments


"1 billion dollars!"

KangarooSong
August 6th 2011
149 Comments


it doesn't take a trained ear to know they don't sound similar at all. this idiotic woman just wants exposure for her uneventful musical career. da fuck?

Puzzles
August 6th 2011
3065 Comments


I seem to have missed the part where they're similar in the slightest. Sounds like this "relatively unknown Chicago based songwriter" is out for her 15 minutes of fame...

Yuma310
August 6th 2011
1656 Comments


don't hear it at all, but they're both annoying as hell if that accounts for anything. [2]

ha ha just trying to get attention. the pop-culture media will no doubt explode about this, if not give it air time and thats all that matter to miss.... i forgot her name. its too anoying to remember. Rebecca Black or something...

Pharoh
August 6th 2011
3325 Comments


WeBreakya back

Acanthus
August 6th 2011
9812 Comments


Hmm, what would the world be like without lawyers?

pizzamachine
August 6th 2011
27026 Comments


lol they sound nothing alike, surprise surprise

YouGotLucky
August 6th 2011
971 Comments


My 100th Comment

foreverendeared
August 6th 2011
14720 Comments


Congratulations!



Now go kill yourself please.

Piglet
August 6th 2011
8474 Comments


Nice article, Jake
This will be interesting.

thunder15
August 6th 2011
627 Comments


"'the pop-culture media will no doubt explode about this'"

foreverendeared
August 6th 2011
14720 Comments


I'll wrap my small intestines 'round my neck
And set fire to myself on stage

paxman
August 6th 2011
4084 Comments


Controversy!





Byebye.

Prince1993
August 6th 2011
553 Comments


Lady who?

liledman
August 6th 2011
3828 Comments


"Hmm, what would the world be like without lawyers?"

bands would have been ripped off more often by record companies thats for sure.


need to hear the full song before judging, but at the moment its like shes suing for similar circumstances surrounding the conception. if there is a bar hear or there where it is similar though, then lady gaga would prob pay her off coldplay style.

MoosechriS
August 6th 2011
6353 Comments


In other news:

Judas priest sue 3 inches of blood because they remotely sound like them

Brownboy
August 6th 2011
114 Comments


retarded

Pharoh
August 6th 2011
3325 Comments




balcaen
August 6th 2011
3183 Comments


dude i could've sworn she was original right i mean the meat dress...

liledman
August 6th 2011
3828 Comments


breaking news vanilla ice steals queen beat.


queen set an example with that one.

Wolfhorde
August 6th 2011
15387 Comments


Can't really say I care. Don't dumb lawsuits happen all the time musicians and Hollywood stars?

pedro70512
August 6th 2011
4169 Comments


nothing will ever top Sea Kittens.

KronosRage
August 6th 2011
367 Comments


Almost all pop musicians sound like crap, lets sue all of them

conradtao
Emeritus
August 6th 2011
2090 Comments


"A lot of people say that the songs might not sound the same at first blush, but when you look at the music and composition, it's otherwise," the lawyer says. "We've spoken to musicologists and other experts who examined the melody and tonal structure not only with the chorus line but throughout [and came to that conclusion]."

ahahahhAHAHAHAHAhhehehehhAHEHEUEHEUEHUEHUEUEHEHHEU

musicologists are the worst people in the world. they're paid to find connections between everything, be it purely melodic, rhythmic, or numerological and/or religious.

who gives a shit. honestly.

GodL1ke
August 6th 2011
809 Comments


lol lady gaga [3]

Titan50
August 6th 2011
4588 Comments


Yeah, good luck with that lawsuit...

FadeToBlack
August 6th 2011
11043 Comments


dude i could've sworn she was original right i mean the meat dress...
this

PistolPete
August 6th 2011
5304 Comments


was expecting even the slightest similarity to pop up while i listened,

nope...bitch just wants money from lady gaga, what a joke

Srangerthanficti0n
August 6th 2011
98 Comments


hmm so if i can get joey sturgis to produce my band i can sue half the bands on rise yes?

OneMoreRoland
August 6th 2011
1053 Comments


Wow..

iFghtffyrdmns
August 6th 2011
7044 Comments


okay.

dylanthedesertpea
August 6th 2011
587 Comments


was it just me or did that gaga song sound strikingly similar to her own bad romance?

balcaen
August 6th 2011
3183 Comments


i really hope we look back in 5 years and have a good laugh about lady gaga

iFghtffyrdmns
August 6th 2011
7044 Comments


yeah, that would be an understandable reaction...

but what about looking back on j-biebs?

Rev
August 6th 2011
9882 Comments


musical copyright infringement is a joke

witchxrapist
August 7th 2011
11117 Comments


Sounds like that Gaynor faggot (get it) should get sued, not Gaga.

witchxrapist
August 7th 2011
11117 Comments


P.S., music snobs with bad tastes: Gaga is the shit.

balcaen
August 7th 2011
3183 Comments


hahahahaha dude seriously

MopHeadOvMetal
August 7th 2011
193 Comments


There are deathcore bands that should be sued for being unoriginal too. I believe Emmure's Sound Wave Superior had hints of Carnifex and Whitechapel riffs. :/

Hammersharf
August 7th 2011
23 Comments


This bitch wishes she sounded like Gaga!!!

ratowitz
August 7th 2011
175 Comments


Lady Gaga should die.

FilupLees
August 7th 2011
344 Comments


I opened this assuming that she had infringed upon Ke$ha's well documented copyright of bad from 2008.

Why isn't that being talked about?

TarkAhh
August 8th 2011
46 Comments


This is fuckin retarded. This really shouldn't be a case at all. Or every deathcore band should sue eachother. Every pop/dance song is pretty much the same anyways. Lady GaGas "version" of Judas is totally better in my opinion. Not that it's just because I'm a fan, I just like it way better. Once again...a stupid case

mylucidpandawalks
August 8th 2011
27 Comments


First time I heard Judas I was like "hmm this sounds like that one Rebecca Francescatti song everyones always talking about"

LightningJ
August 9th 2011
120 Comments


i really hope we look back in 5 years and have a good laugh about lady gaga


If not, our kids will in 20 years.
"Yes, son, my generation did idolize someone who wore a dress made out of meat..."



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