Did Jay Z Steal This Hot Track?

The marathon litigation over Jay Z’s sampling of an old Egyptian tune for his blockbuster song, “Big Pimpin’,” took a new turn on Wednesday after the nephew of a deceased Egyptian composer filed a new copyright infringement lawsuit against Live Nation.

Few legal disputes in the entertainment industry are older than Osama Ahmed Fahmy’s 8-year war over “Big Pimpin’.” Jay Z himself as well as MTV, Paramount Pictures, Warner Music and others are still involved in an eight-year-old case examining allegations that the song’s unmistakably catchy hook illicitly derives from “Khosara, Khosara” from the 1960 Egyption film Fata Ahlami. As that case proceeds, a new lawsuit was launched this week that aims to hold Live Nation responsible for its part.

According to the complaint, “Big Pimpin'” has been mentioned regularly in Jay Z concert previews and a “substantial percentage of people who purchased tickets to Jay Z’s shows hoped he would perform Big Pimpin’, expected he would perform Big Pimpin’, and would have been disappointed if he had not performed Big Pimpin’. On information and belief, Live Nation has profited substantially from Jay Z’s performance of Big Pimpin’, including, but not limited to, profits from ticket sales, merchandise, parking, concessions, and other revenue streams.”

The newest lawsuit against Live Nation, filed by attorneys at Browne George Ross, seeks actual damages and profits as well as an injunction restraining Live Nation from promoting, producing or facilitating any live performance of “Big Pimpin’.” 

BMS