Timbaland Wins Bollywood Lawsuit For “Put You On The Game” Sample
Timbaland won a lawsuit that was filed against him for a sample used on Game’s “Put You On The Game” record when a Florida Court Of Appeals upheld a previous ruling from a lower court.
Saregama India Ltd. filed a suit against Timbaland, Game, Aftermath and Interscope Records alleging Timbaland sampled the 1967 Bollywood song “Baghor Mein Bahar Hai” without permission.
Judge Jane A. Restani ruled,
“Even if BMBH were covered by the agreement (a question we need not decide), Saregama would not currently own a copyright in the BMBH sound recording and thus lacks statutory standing to bring this copyright infringement action. We, therefore, affirm the district court’s order granting summary judgment for the Defendants.”
Songs in old Bollywood films can belong to as many three separate owners: the writer, seller and recorder.
Even though Timbaland did loop three notes from the song, Saregama did not have the authority to file the suit.
