Can Taylor Swift "Shake It Off" When it Comes to Infringement?

Pop superstar Taylor Swift is used to fending off the haters, but this time, she will be doing it in federal court. In a recent lawsuit, R&B singer Jessie Braham sued Swift for $42 million, alleging that Swift took lyrics from his 2013 single, “Haters Gone Hate,” for her No. 1 hit single “Shake It Off.” Braham is alleging copyright infringement based on his song’s chorus, which contains the following chorus lyrics: “Haters gone hate, playas gone play / Watch out for them fakers, they’ll fake you every day.” Swift’s song, on the other hand, contains these chorus lyrics: “Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play / And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.” 

Is Braham just another hater, or does he have a legitimate claim? Read more about copyright infringement.

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In addition to Thriving Attorney, Darin M. Klemchuk is founder of Klemchuk LLP, a litigation, intellectual property, and transactional law firm located in Dallas, Texas.  He also co-founded Project K, a charity devoted to changing the world one random act of kindness at a time.  Click to read more about Darin Klemchuk's practice as an intellectual property lawyer.

 

Darin M. Klemchuk

In addition to Thriving Attorney, Darin M. Klemchuk is founder of Klemchuk LLP, a litigation, intellectual property, and transactional law firm located in Dallas, Texas. He also co-founded Project K, a charity devoted to changing the world one random act of kindness at a time. Click to read more about Darin Klemchuk's practice as an intellectual property lawyer.


You can follow Darin on LinkedInTwitter, and Google+. 

 

http://www.klemchuk.com
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