Originally published Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
Fed magistrate orders rapper Lil Wayne to turn over records in copyright infringement lawsuit
A federal magistrate on Wednesday ordered rapper Lil Wayne to turn over financial records for his Grammy-winning album, "Tha Carter III," to a music publisher accusing him of copyright infringement.
Associated Press Writer
A federal magistrate on Wednesday ordered rapper Lil Wayne to turn over financial records for his Grammy-winning album, "Tha Carter III," to a music publisher accusing him of copyright infringement.
A lawsuit filed in May 2008 claims Lil Wayne didn't have permission to sample folk singer Karma-Ann Swanepoel's song "Once" in his track "I Feel Like Dying."
"I Feel Like Dying" wasn't a track on "Tha Carter III," but a lawyer for Urband & Lazar Music Publishing said Lil Wayne promoted the album by singing that song in concert and allowing fans to download it for free on his Web site.
U.S. Magistrate Daniel Knowles III in New Orleans ruled that Urband & Lazar, which published "Once," is entitled to review records about the sale of "Tha Carter III." Knowles issued a protective order to keep the records under wraps.
"Only experts and attorneys have a right to see it," he said.
The suit says Lil Wayne's record label, Cash Money Records, failed to negotiate a license to use Swanepoel's song before millions of people downloaded "I Feel Like Dying."
In court papers, Lil Wayne's lawyers said Swanepoel made several unsuccessful requests to appear in a music video for "I Feel Like Dying" or to perform alongside the rapper.
Melvin Albritton, a lawyer for Urband & Lazar, acknowledged Lil Wayne didn't directly profit from "I Feel Like Dying."
"It's more akin to promotional material," he said. "He used the infringing work to promote himself."
Albritton claimed plans to include "I Feel Like Dying" on "Tha Carter III" were scrapped after the lawsuit was filed.
Shantell Payton, one of Lil Wayne's attorneys, said the rapper doesn't control the Web site where fans downloaded "I Feel Like Dying." Payton also denied the song helped Lil Wayne promote his album.
"Quite simply, 'I Feel Like Dying' did nothing for Mr. Carter's career," Lil Wayne's lawyers wrote in court papers.
Lil Wayne is a New Orleans native whose real name is Dwayne Carter Jr. Swanepoel is a native of South Africa now living in Florida, according to Albritton.
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
More Nation & World headlines...
E-mail article
Print view
Share
![]()
Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
Children in home day care watching hours of TV, study says
Senate Democrats split on health bill's fate
U.K. started planning early for war, leaked papers show
Vaccine to kill nicotine buzz now in late tests by small drug firm

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Real Salt Lake is handed the 2009 MLS Cup trophy at Qwest Field, November 22, 2009.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Husky Men's Basketball Blog | Saturday's Pac-10 games in review
- Senate vote clears hurdle
239 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
134 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
128 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
123 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
122 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
90 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
82 - Game thread
70 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
62 - Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
54
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Protect yourself from baggage loss
- Northwest Living | On Whidbey, a unified home from multiple recycled parts
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'





