Photo Credit: Franklin Sheard Jr/ Shutterstock
Emulation may be flattering, but it doesn’t always equate to copyright infringement, as highlighted by an Illinois federal judge who dismissed a lawsuit against French Montana (Karim Kharbouch) on Thursday.
Eddie Lee Richardson, known as Hotwire The Producer, alleged that French Montana’s 2013 hit “Ain’t Worried About Nothin’” unlawfully sampled his instrumental track “Hood Pushin’ Weight.” However, Judge Nancy L. Maldonado ruled in favor of French, emphasizing that Richardson’s copyright registration solely covered the sound recording, not the underlying musical composition, limiting his infringement claim to direct sampling.
Despite sympathizing with Richardson’s situation, the judge underscored the importance of comprehensive intellectual property rights for a different legal outcome, expressing hope that Richardson would continue his musical pursuits with a better understanding of copyright law.
Unfortunately, Richardson’s admission of holding only a sound recording copyright restricted his means to establish infringement, leading to the lawsuit’s dismissal. The judge acknowledged the distinct limitation in the Copyright Act, clarifying that Richardson couldn’t claim copyright infringement based solely on the similarity of the songs.
Attorneys for both parties have yet to comment on the decision.
