Bieber, Usher copyright suit dismissed

In the music industry, when one song sounds too similar to another, there could be grounds for a copyright lawsuit, especially when the song in question becomes a hit that generates a lot of revenue. However, if two songs do not sound similar enough for a member of the public to be able to tell that they sound the same, the case may not have enough ground to succeed.

This is the scenario that has transpired in a recent copyright case involving Justin Bieber and Usher. In 2013, two Virginia songwriters, Devin Copeland and Maerio Overton thought they heard enough similarity between the hit 2010 song "Somebody to Love," performed by Justin Bieber and Usher, and a song that they had written. The song sounded similar enough for the two to file a copyright infringement lawsuit claiming that the two songs sounded alike in style and lyrics. 

The songwriters claimed that they had provided copies of song they had written in 2008 to music promoters, and that it eventually made its way to Usher. However, it was recently announced that lawsuit against Bieber and Usher has been dismissed after U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen ruled that the song did not have intrinsic similarities to the one written by Copeland and Overton. 

The dismissal was a turn of good fortune for the pop stars, as Copeland and Overton were seeking $10 million in damages.

Although Copeland and Overton were not victorious in this case, if they had decided on a different strategy to protect the rights to their songs, they may have had a stronger case. Those looking to protect their intellectual property from potential copyright infringement should consult a small business attorney to learn more. An Arizona business lawyer can provide the counsel businesses need to create a sound strategy in the face of a copyright lawsuit. 

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