Fergie Catches a Case of the Coldplays

Reggae group Groundation accuses Black Eyed pea of ripping off their nearly decade-old tune on "Voodoo Doll"; seek unspecified damages

By Gina Serpe, Ashley Fultz Sep 18, 2009 6:50 PMTags

Are there no new ideas in Hollywood anymore? Not if you're a potential plaintiff with an itchy trigger finger.

And that finger is now pointed at Fergie.

Like those British blokes before her, the Black Eyed Pea has been sued for allegedly stealing song. This time Grounded Music claims Fergie's "Voodoo Doll" blatantly rips off a nearly decade-old reggae song no one's heard of (or at least didn't know they'd heard of until now), "Waterfall" by Groundation.

The latter song was recorded in 2000, six years prior to Fergie's tune. The lawsuit, which was filed Thursday and which also ropes in EMI and producer Will.i.am, alleges that Fergie's track "is substantially and strikingly similar" to the earlier ditty.

Grounded Music, which holds the copyright to Groundation's song, is seeking unspecified damages and is requesting a trial by jury.

Compare the tunes and give your own verdict:

Poll

Fergie's Bad Voodoo Poll

Did Fergie borrow a little too heavily from Groundation?
Yes, she clearly ripped them off!
58.2%
No, obviously not. Enough with the frivolous lawsuits!
41.8%

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