Namco America has filed a lawsuit against rapper Lil’ Flip and Sony Music Entertainment for copyright infringement, over the rapper’s#### song “Game Over.” In a lawsuit filed in US District Court, Southern District of New York, Namco alleges their copyright was infringed upon, when sounds from the game "Pac-Man" and "Ms. Pac-Man" were included on “Game Over” and the remix to the song. Lawyers for Namco were tightlipped about the details of the case. The lawsuit alleges the sampled portions of the songs were never cleared and cited that the song contained references to guns, drugs and profanity. Sources stated that Namco is seeking millions in damages, with some stating the amount could be as high as $10 million dollars. “Game Over” is taken from Lil’ Flip’s platinum selling double album U Gotta Feel Me. The lawsuit was filed months before a federal appeals court in Cincinnati, Ohio ruled that artists should pay for every sample included in their work, including short snippets, whether they were distinguishable or not. The law previously allowed for some flexibility in regards to sampling, but that was struck down, when federal laws were passed to curb piracy of digital recordings. The court ruled those laws applies to digital sampling.
Namco America has
filed a lawsuit against rapper Lil’ Flip and Sony Music Entertainment for
copyright infringement, over the rapper’s#### song “Game Over.”
In a lawsuit filed
in US District Court, Southern District of New York, Namco alleges their copyright
was infringed upon, when sounds from the game "Pac-Man" and "Ms.
Pac-Man" were included on “Game Over” and the remix to the
song.
Lawyers for Namco
were tightlipped about the details of the case.
The lawsuit alleges
the sampled portions of the songs were never cleared and cited that the song
contained references to guns, drugs and profanity.
Sources stated
that Namco is seeking millions in damages, with some stating the amount could
be as high as $10 million dollars.
“Game Over”
is taken from Lil’ Flip’s platinum selling double album U Gotta
Feel Me.
The lawsuit was
filed months before a federal appeals court in Cincinnati, Ohio ruled that artists
should pay for every sample included in their work, including short snippets,
whether they were distinguishable or not.
The law previously
allowed for some flexibility in regards to sampling, but that was struck down,
when federal laws were passed to curb piracy of digital recordings.
The court ruled
those laws applies to digital sampling.
