No More Copyright Rap for 50 Cent
Rapper 50 Cent is now free to party like it's Shorty's birthday.
A federal judge has dismissed the copyright infringement lawsuit accusing the Get Rich or Die Tryin' purveyor of pilfering the opening line of the 2003 hit "In Da Club" from 2 Live Crew frontman Luther Campbell's 1994 tune "It's Your Birthday."
U.S. District Judge Paul Huck ruled Friday that the phrase in question—"Go Sheila, it's your birthday"—was a "common, unoriginal and noncopyrightable element of the song" and was not entitled to protection.
Of course, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson, didn't mention someone named Sheila in the opener of his catchy single, but instead informed a dude who went by Shorty that it was his birthday and that "we're gonna party like it's you're birthday." Etc., etc.
Huck also found that, aside from those initial five words (which don't even occur until Fiddy has repeated the word "go" quite a few times), there are practically no similarities between "In Da Club" and "It's Your Birthday." No reasonable jury would infer otherwise and nobody's going to be getting those tunes confused anytime soon, the judge added.
The lawsuit was originally filed in January by attorney Richard Wolfe on behalf of Lil' Joe Wein Music, which holds the copyright to "It's Your Birthday." Campbell told MTV News afterward that he was not involved in the decision.
Wolfe also alleged in the complaint that Campbell's "I Like It, I Love It" can be heard on the 2003 DVD 50 Cent: The New Breed.
50 Cent, who most recently lent his rapping prowess to Eminem's upcoming single, "You Don't Know," is scheduled to spend part of his Halloween at the Baychester Community Center in the Bronx, New York, talking to kids about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.
Perhaps he'll lead off with tips on how to avoid getting shot nine times.
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