Another Day, Another Lawsuit: Beyonce To Actually Testify in Copyright Trial???

November 10th, 2009

Posted by Bossip Staff

7298 Views

Some dude in Chicago is suing Bey Bey for lyric-theft:

Did pop diva Beyonce Knowles and Destiny’s Child rip off a Chicago songwriter’s song? A copycat claim contained in a 2006 lawsuit is expected to land the “Bootylicious” sensation in a witness chair next month as part of a copyright infringement trial to be held in Chicago’s federal courthouse. In dispute is a song titled “Cater 2 U” released by Destiny’s Child in a 2004 compilation called “Destiny Fulfilled.” The video features sultry scenes of the musical trio proclaiming: “Whatever you desire, I’ll aspire.”

But Chicago songwriter and performer Rickey Allen says it’s his song, and a judge has given the green light for a jury to hear his claims against Mrs. Jay-Z. Allen first copyrighted his “Cater 2 U,” — with the same spelling — in the mid-1990s. He performed the song locally and updated the copyright three times, as recently as 2000. Allen’s song is about “relieving the stress of a significant other, and getting them to relax.” He says Destiny’s Child’s version contains similar steamy lyrics. When Allen’s song says: “I want to rub you down,” Destiny’s Child asks: “Want a foot rub?” Allen’s lyrics say: “The tub has hot steam rising,” and “I’m waiting to soak your body through.” The Destiny’s Child song offers to: “Let me run your bath water.”

“Do we say [Beyonce's] responsible for copying? Yes. But there’s no such thing as innocent copying, even if it’s unintentional,” said Allen’s lawyer, Matt Wildermuth. “The jury will decide the notion that these are simple coincidences.” Allen says he passed a copy of his “Cater 2 U” to Chicago remixer Maurice Joshua, and the two planned to collaborate on a demo. That never happened, Allen says. But Joshua later spent several hours in a session with Destiny’s Child recording a different song, according to court papers. Joshua says he never had a copy of Allen’s work. Lawyers for the threesome say the case has no merit and asked that it be tossed. It was Knowles who was the source for the idea of “Cater 2 U,” her lawyers said in a court filing. “She is perhaps the most important witness for the defendants,” they said.

U.S. District Judge James Holderman has ruled there’s enough evidence for the case to go before a jury, pointing to Joshua as the link and saying it’s possible he could have provided a copy of Allen’s song before they released their hit. The trial was delayed once because of conflicts with Knowles’ schedule but is set for Dec. 10.

They know Mathew Knowles ain’t having that.

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Tags: Beyonce, For the Stans, Lawsuits

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Comments

64 Responses to “Another Day, Another Lawsuit: Beyonce To Actually Testify in Copyright Trial???”

Cynthia

11/10/09, 09:43:am

Prosche is suing crocks…everyday another dumb trial

Moreaces

11/10/09, 09:44:am

Khristal

11/10/09, 09:44:am

I bet you a dollar I know who will win LMAO!

This some Shhh...

11/10/09, 09:46:am

It’s too early for this.

CB IS A PUNK

11/10/09, 09:46:am

BEY IS DUMB AS ROCKS & HAS THE DICTION OF A GARDEN GNOME…SETTLE BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

She Is Always Ripping Off Some One Else’s Songs.
Smh, But She Will Win.
I Remember Ne-Yo Was Saying That He Wrote Irreplaceable, SHe Lied And Said SHe Wrote It, && She Still Didn’t Pay Him For It. I Mean He Wrote It For Her, But She Still Fronted. Shady.

MS.DANI

11/10/09, 09:48:am

she should testify against her makeup artist,stylist,jay camel,solange and her daddy.4 lettin her come out the house like that i mean at some point we gotta keep it real.oooooooooooooo and them hair companys for making them nappy wigs lol!!!!!!!!!

MS. PANAMA

11/10/09, 09:54:am

WHY IS EVERYONE ALWAYS TRYING TO HATE ON QUEEN BEY???

HATERS!!!

AND, HE WON’T WIN THAT LAWSUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nicole

11/10/09, 09:56:am

This ***** has made a career out of stealing people’s songs. I wouldn’t put it past her or her greedy ***** daddy.

jdavis0183

11/10/09, 09:56:am

I hate when they sue for songs that have been out for years.

sunny

11/10/09, 09:56:am

I’m not a Beyonce lover but can Bossip lay off of her…PLEASE!!

STEFANY

11/10/09, 09:56:am

Beyonce needs to leave the red and orange lipstick alone, she look a hot damn mess.

bored

11/10/09, 09:56:am

She will always be the main one they go after because she has more success than the others. Why go after Kelly or Michelle, did they make 87 million in one year? No! The man is not stupid bottom line. I love how they go after Matt and Bey, they learned this game early in the game and know it’s you either get yours cause they sure will get theirs. Matt was not having a TLC for his girls or just for Beyonce.. Like someone said, guess who is going to win?

Silent Swagg

11/10/09, 10:02:am

so petty.

JB (Chik-Fil-A Bowl here I come!!)

11/10/09, 10:02:am

Please televise this on Court TV. I want to hear her trying to use some intelligent language.

I'm Just Me: Keeping It Real Since 1983

11/10/09, 10:03:am

NEXT!!!

MS.DANI

11/10/09, 10:04:am

so also stole if i were a boy from a 18yo whit girl u can hear the oringinal on u tube but she settled out of court.yall know she cant chew gum and write at the same time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bossip is Lame!

11/10/09, 10:18:am

Ugh…did y’all have to use the absolute worse picture she has ever taken for this article. That ish there is hard on the eyes. SMDH! Anywhooo…she needs to stop stealing peoples work and just do what she does best. No one is requiring her to write. Lots of the best singers and performers don’t write and still do very well. She is arrogant, selfish and greedy. I hope they have a translator in the court telling folks what it is that she is mumbling.

Lady Architect (All In What You Do)

11/10/09, 10:22:am

Well if the song is copywritten I’m sure he is gonna get a pay out from Bey’s camp to keep quiet. Mr. Joshua will also get sued in the end. Her camp always steals songs…this is nothing new and now writers are speaking out thanks to Neyo putting her on blast before.

I'm Just Me: Keeping It Real Since 1983

11/10/09, 10:22:am

BOSSIP ARE YOU GOING TO POST ANYTHING ON THE EXECUTION OF JOHN ALLEN MUHAMMED???

I'm Just Me: Keeping It Real Since 1983

11/10/09, 10:23:am

What up Lady A??

TRU_TO_ALL

11/10/09, 10:24:am

Why is this chick bleaching her skin? It’s sad what music has come too these days. This is another chick who has no talent. We all know she doesn’t write her own songs, she’s dumber than a bag of hammers.

Sonia

11/10/09, 10:26:am

DC and Beyoncé in particular never wrote a damn song in their entire life. they just “tweak” that’s how they call it in the industry

mya

11/10/09, 10:30:am

We know she s been stealin music since day one but she knows how to rock it… at least she must pay the people back youtube.com/watch?v=aTUZIAUNtTE

resurrected

11/10/09, 10:37:am

At this point I am sure that she does not care because nothing every comes out of there law suits and she get away with everything…

MrTavMarie

11/10/09, 10:37:am

I hate when they sue for songs that have been out for years.

^^^^
EXACTLY! It’s like when MJ went on trial 4 years ago, and everyone came out of the bush saying they were “touched” inappropriately by him.

People have been speaking up on songs on this past album, b/c They fronted on those writers and they want their due. If a song has been out for 6 and 7 years, it doesn’t matter anymore! She doesn’t even sing that song on her I Am tour! smdh….

naturlbeauty

11/10/09, 10:43:am

Well her money either her dad can get her into heaven, hope she makes it right before her time comes.

Ummmmmm....

11/10/09, 10:44:am

Sounds suss….

The Pro Wife

11/10/09, 10:46:am

It doesn’t matter how long the song has been out, it may have just took this long because of the court system and Matthew’s bribery.

Beyonce until this day stills copyright songs, she now changes around a word or two and claim its hers.

The ProWife – Lifestyle Management of The Professional Athlete Community

Say it isn't so

11/10/09, 10:53:am

We are in a recession pay up, if you stole, I mean owe. Rih Rih look alike, everything aint for everybody. Nude lips look best on this chick!

Tayjohn

11/10/09, 11:05:am

*****oby knows the real true about who song is who… we only know what we hear in the media so stop p*****ing comments about something we don’t no about for sure… the media will make a celebrities look like $hit and the story isn’t true. stop beleiving everything you hear in the media… I love Bey & jay-z no matter what they say about them… no one knows the real true about there lives but them. When you read the back of Bey CD it will tell who wrote and produce her songs… yes irreplaceable was written by NE-YO.. please read the fine print people before we p***** negative comments…

P

11/10/09, 11:31:am

Okay so same meaning different wording..Not copying at ALL!!Now he wants to sue..how long ago did cater to u come out..??5 yrs ago..lol..just saying this is absurd!!!!

P

11/10/09, 11:33:am

Umm on another note i mean didn’t you hear Jay-Z’s lyrics..My High yellow broad..She’s french Creole and she definitely hasn’t bleached her skin..some people are so pathetic..can’t stand the fact that she’s a perfectionist with everything she touches!!!!

Lolita

11/10/09, 11:37:am

Bey is a fake french creole she doesn’t know anything about the creole culture!!!
She just has some “creole blood”

Tracy

11/10/09, 11:52:am

Good writing comes from experience Beyonce has performing makeup stage experience not real life experiences like the rest of us. Everyone know that that dumb bunny is not writing all those songs.

BettyBoop

11/10/09, 11:58:am

she also stole ring the alarm look it up on youtube. She is getting sued for that too. I guess when Jamie Fox was paying off people in Dream Girls was art imitating life.

bambi

11/10/09, 12:03:pm

I swear this song was originally sung by some other r’n'b boy band , Silk or someone, and DC’s cater to you was a cover? in fact i’m sure of it as i heard the male version but can’t remember the group’s name. what a shame as this was the only song from that rubbish record i liked thinking it was a cover. If they say Bee wrote the track, sorry but when did she and Jay (I *****ume it was about jay) get the chance to do all that to/for him.

Brooklyn, Stand UP! (2009 World Series Champions)

11/10/09, 12:12:pm

hmpf

11/10/09, 12:17:pm

Just because you are hearing about it now does not mean he didn’t sue her in 2004 when the song came out. After you file a lawsuit you go through a discovery process that usually takes about a year to complete. The Federal Courts are backlogged with cases and it may take 5 years for your case to be heard. Furthermore, I am sure B’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit which was denied and now she has to go to trial. JayZ was sued for his 6am song and he settled because he knew he stole the song from those boys in DC.

This is not B’s first time being sued for copyright infringement.

$Beyonce FAN$

11/10/09, 12:17:pm

THIS IS THE MOST DUMBEST THING I EVER SEEN.YOU PPL SAY BEYONCE DOSEN’T WRITE HER MUSIC SOOO NOW YOU ALL ARE JUMPING ON HER CASE MAKE UP YOUR MIND PPL

phe

11/10/09, 12:57:pm

Is it me, or is anyone else sick of this broad???

Butterscotch Baby

11/10/09, 13:33:pm

On the same vein, whatever happened to her using Des’ree’s “Kissing You” before getting the green light to use it? That went away quietly …

QueenLee

11/10/09, 14:24:pm

This is not B’s first time being sued for copyright infringement.
*****
So True….case was actually filed in ‘06 but has been going through the court process. There are a lot of people who don’t understand the process and make irrelevant statements. Obviously there is enough validity to his *****ertions that he has been granted a trial. This has happen to her time and time again it makes you wonder, everyone can’t be lying. Oh well either they will let her get off again or she just might have to pay this time.

Dvinemrsshay

11/10/09, 14:39:pm

ummm, beyonce is not full french creole, her mother might be, but her daddy is full negro…her skin is not that white, and it never has been. these treatments that celebrities have access to are changing the complexion, but I guess she gets a p***** because she’s already light skinned. SMH. On another note, she gets credit all the time for songs she doesn’t write, just for singing them. It’s a part deals she makes with certain producers…the thing is that you can’t get away with not giving credit with mega producers like she tried with Ne-Yo…this other guy, he doesn’t stand a chance.

Tayjohn

11/10/09, 14:54:pm

I keep reading.. STOP copying STOP copying……It’s call making money.. I don’t care who wrote or who song it was…they did’nt make it a HIT.. anybody can write and/or produce a song, but it takes a real good artist to make it a hit.. you don’t even need to know how to sing… If it wasn’t a HIT he would not be trying to sue. I hear the same words in songs all the time.. And Bey is not the first one to sued and she want be the last.. it happens all the time in the business….

ACE

11/10/09, 15:06:pm

So if I write a song that has lyrics ‘I wanna run your bath water’ am I gonna get sued too? GTFOH! This dude is reaching the only way he’ll win is if the songs sound the exact same. Simular lyrics and simular title mean nothing. On my ipod alone I have like 20 songs with the same name same direction and different artist – Should the sue each other two.

Old School

11/10/09, 15:43:pm

What goes around comes around…. It’s too bad that this girl can do so much wrong and her stans still praise her. Didn’t she say that she’s a role model?

WHAT

11/10/09, 16:44:pm

i wish the wh*re would go away
she cheated her way to the top and now she cheating on her Jayz – really i dont hate anybody but , o i just cant stand this girl, i dont like anything about her – i just feel bad for jayz that he marry a wh*re monger.

WHAT

11/10/09, 16:46:pm

look at her with that white face and dark body – and that bright orange lips – she look cheap – like a hooker on hunts point

Tayjohn

11/10/09, 16:49:pm

Old school…
If your really old school then you should know how it goes.. and she is a role model to some of us, what does that have to do with her being sued… What is she doing that has not been done before…..It’s not wrong or right when you don’t know the facts..and it can’t be too wrong becaue she have made millions…IT’S called BUSINESS:=)

it's me

11/10/09, 17:14:pm

It’s time to go on and have those kids, now, Bey.

Angel

11/10/09, 17:23:pm

She is nothing but a thief.

Redbone_Darkbutt_Black_White (It's just coochie)

11/10/09, 19:00:pm

No less a MAJOR musician than the late, great George Harrison was sued for stealing the melody from the tune “He’s So Fine” (released in 1962), for his song “My Sweet Lord” (1971) — and HAD TO PAY.

Don’t be so dismissive of the suit —- I don’t know if it has merit or not — but this is FAR from the first time that a major artist has been sued for this type of thing.

boy oh boy

11/10/09, 22:04:pm

i’ sick of this thieving no talented ghetto ***** already.

riri biggest fan

11/10/09, 23:34:pm

ugh…yawn next

Formal kids and Bridal

11/11/09, 01:19:am

Great to see comments about suits

Prime

11/11/09, 03:20:am

Y does her skin look that light! Don’t tell me it’s the lighting too!!! SMH

Consider this....

11/11/09, 16:29:pm

…she needs to stop stealing peoples work and just do what she does best. No one is requiring her to write. Lots of the best singers and performers don’t write and still do very well. She is arrogant, selfish and greedy. I hope they have a translator in the court telling folks what it is that she is mumbling
___________________________________________________
BWHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Exactly…

I AM NOT THE ONE, YA HEARD ME!!!

11/11/09, 21:11:pm

Not all Creoles are light skinned. I should know being born and raised here in Louisiana. To *****ume that, is just too ignorant. My family is Creole and we come in all shades. Not just light skinned. It’s in our Culture. How we speak, how we eat, and live our daily lives. We all 9my family) share the same features even though we are different complexions. Our story is probably just like any other black person’s story. Especially for those born and raised in the USA. French, Spanish, African and indian makes up our background. And because of that it allows us to share a bloodline even though we are an array of extremely beautiful, yet different complexions.
I truly believe that Beyonce is bleaching her skin which seems common amongst our black celebrity entertainers. They must appeal to the white or other races, besides black people. I think Beyonce and her family use the word, ‘Creole’ to try to seperate themselves from other blacks. Trying to appear ‘Special’. Which for me is Bull*****. Not only can I break it down with Reality, but I also have the proof in my family. As though most of you do. We are all ‘Special’. You best believe that, Cher. *wink wink*

anon

11/12/09, 03:51:am

Beyonce Steals Song Again

judiciaryreport.com/beyonce_steals_song_again.htm

Paul

11/15/09, 17:55:pm

First, Beyonce probably wins the lawsuits because she is innocent. Anybody can sue someone over some bulls*it. Sometimes people try to make you a target. Beyonce had said several times that Neyo helped her write Irreplaceable before the B’Day album came out. I heard her say it on live tv. When she said she wrote Irreplaceable it was one time in a concert. She was just trying to have interaction with the crowd and said, “I wrote this for the ladies.” She already had given Neyo publically, and his name was definitely on the credits on the album. Neyo said that Beyonce did write the melody for Irreplaceable, so she did take part in the writing of the song. A songwriting includes lyrics and melody. So she can say that she’s a writer on the song.

Secondly, that girl was lying about If I Was a Boy. She knew she had sold that song to the producer Toby Gad as a demo. I remember reading a press release before the album came out, and it said that it was a Toby Gad song. Beyonce’s name was not on the album credit as a songwriter. It only had Toby Gad and BC Jean. The liar was BC Jean trying to act like the song was stole from her.

People trip me out. MJ, Madonna and Mariah Carey have been sued several times for copyright infringement. Some of you going to complain against them, too.

Yolanda

11/15/09, 20:12:pm

I don’t ever recall Beyonce saying that she wrote every song by herself. She just said that she was a songwriter. She has written songs by herself and sometimes she collaborate with people on songs. It’s more to songs than lyrics. Melody also count as songwriting. So she could be making lyric and/or melodic changes to a song. ASCAP rules say that you’re supposed to get credit for anything you change. I’m sure that’s probably what a lot of big time artists are doing, but people are being unfair to her and just trying to call her out for it. I swear the parallels of being a black woman in show business.

MsFairness

12/6/09, 20:37:pm

Destiny Child/Beyonce settles out of court for this lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. You naysayers were wrong and Beyonce and team was wrong. What’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong and copyright infringement is wrong. Stealing is WRONG!!!

I am so glad he prevailed and is getting his just due. Please google but hopefully the cameras will be rolling when they attend court in Chicago on Tuesday, December 8th.

Congratulations Mr. Allen!!!

keekeeB

12/25/09, 06:35:am

she isnt bleaching her skin when you wear make up for long periods of time and are under a lot of light (on stage, outside) your skin will tan in all areas not covered by the make up..so she will look pale in those areas…you ppl are sooo damn ignorant……plenty of artist have ppl write music for them, whitney houston, jennifer hudson, mariah carey, celine dion, etta james, aretha franklin , the list goes on, if everyone wrote there own songs it would be no point in puttin credits on the back…..This lawsiut is complete bull….ok so the songs are somewhat similiar…..so what….his version from what i see sounds a mess..i barely like there version….and about the if i where a boy…b.c. jean wrote a song and recorded a demo for beyonce the allegations that beyonce stole it are lies…Neyo needs to stop crying we get it you helped write irreplacable…. its your fault if you didnt request money…thats always the first thing you do…..just like keri hilson you people need to get off of beyonces coat tail trying to ride her to fame….We listen to beyonce for her vocal talent and stage performance she could sing do re mi fa so la ti do and we would love it …so take your lyrics and kick rocks