WYCLEF ACCUSED OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
Hip-hop star WYCLEF JEAN is facing legal action from the members of 1990s rap group BLAHZAY BLAHZAY over a royalties dispute stemming from his 2007 album CARNIVAL.
The former Fugees frontman used a sample of the duo’s 1996 song Danger on his track Welcome to the East, without receiving the authorisation to do so.
Jean reached out to the band during the making of his tune seeking permission to use Danger, and Blahzay Blahzay agreed to approve the request on the condition they featured on his album and were credited for helping to write Welcome to the East.
But the duo claims Jean rejected the offer and pressed ahead with the sample anyway. He sent a royalties cheque to Blahzay Blahzay but they insist the amount was less than adequate and they "promptly rejected and returned" the payment, reports TMZ.com.
The pair originally filed suit against Jean in 2009, but were persuaded to call off the legal action after entering settlement talks with the rapper’s representatives.
However, the negotiations fell through and Blahzay Blahzay have now refiled their papers in a New York court, demanding $2 million (£1.3 million) in compensation.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
