Kanye West Sued by Donna Summer's Estate over Copyright Infringement

The late Donna Summer's estate has taken legal action against Kanye West, now using the name Ye, accusing him of illegally sampling the disco icon's song 'I Feel Love' for his latest album. Court filings reveal that the estate clearly rejected West's request to use the classic 1977 track.

Unauthorized Use of a Classic Hit

West integrated a portion of 'I Feel Love' into his song 'Good (Don't Die)' on the recently released 'Vultures 1'. However, following the estate's objections, the track was pulled from streaming platforms. Summer's representatives allege that despite being denied permission, West's team attempted to use a similar-sounding version to bypass the restriction, which they argue is still a violation of copyright laws.

Contentious Figure Leads to Denials

West's contentious public profile, fueled by remarks that have been labelled far-right and antisemitic, has resulted in multiple brands and collaborators distancing themselves from the artist. This background played a role in Summer's estate's decision to refuse the sample clearance. They aim to protect Summer's legacy from any potential negative association with West's controversial actions.

Seeking Justice through the Courts

The lawsuit against West, his record label, and colleague Ty Dolla $ign seeks compensation and a judicial order to halt further dissemination of 'Good (Don't Die)'. Summer's estate has expressed concern that the unauthorized use of 'I Feel Love' has already caused damage due to millions of streams garnered by the track before its removal.

Donna Summer, whose enduring anthems like 'Love to Love You Baby' and 'Hot Stuff' have kept her memory alive, passed away in 2012. The BBC reached out to Giorgio Moroder, who co-wrote and produced 'I Feel Love', for his take on the lawsuit.

Other Artists' Rejection of Kanye's Sampling Requests

Donna Summer's estate is not alone in denying Kanye West's sampling proposals. Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman, also refused a sample request for their 1983 rendition of 'Iron Man' for the same album. Although Osbourne declined due to his views on West's alleged antisemitism, the track did not make it to the final cut of the album.

Kanye West, who first gained fame in 2004, has experienced a series of professional setbacks, including being banned from Twitter and severed ties with Adidas, following a series of offensive statements. Despite these controversies, his musical career boasts over 160 million records sold worldwide.

lawsuit, copyright, sampling