Sleigh Bells Sue Demi Lovato for Copyright Infringement

In November, Sleigh Bells accused Demi Lovato of sampling two of the band’s songs without permission. Sleigh Bells’ Derek Miller wrote on Twitter that “Stars,” from Lovato’s 2015 album Confident, took from “Infinity Guitars” and “Riot Rhythm,” which both appeared on the New York duo’s 2010 debut LP Treats. At the time, producers Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub denied using any samples in Lovato’s “Stars.” Today, Miller and Sleigh Bells bandmate Alexis Krauss have sued Lovato, UMG Recordings, Falk, and Yacoub for copyright infringement, as The Hollywood Reporter notes and Pitchfork has confirmed.

Sleigh Bells’ complaint, filed in a federal court in California, claimed “Stars” includes parts of “Infinity Guitars,” without so much as an attempt by Lovato, the label, or the producers to clear the alleged sample. (“Riot Rhythm” isn’t part of the lawsuit.) The complaint asserted: ”A comparison of the two songs reveals that, at the very least, the combination of the hand claps and bass drum, structured as 3 quarter beats and a rest, with the bass drum providing a counter-rhythm to the hand claps, is at least substantially similar in both works. This infringing material repeats throughout [‘Stars’].”

The complaint further alleged that “the signal decay and other sonic signatures” of each song are “virtually identical.” Plus, the complaint claimed, “The similarities between ‘Infinity Guitars’ and ‘Stars’ transcend the realm of coincidence or shared genetic material, and inform the very essence of the works.” Along with monetary damages, Krauss and Miller asked the court for a legal declaration that Lovato, the label, and the producers intentionally infringed on Sleigh Bells’ copyright.

Reps for Sleigh Bells and Lovato declined to comment to Pitchfork on the lawsuit. Last year, Falk and Yacoub told Entertainment Weekly in a statement: “We did not use any samples in Demi Lovato’s song ‘Stars.’ Demi was also not involved with the production. She only wrote top line.” 

.@ddlovato Demi Lovato flattered you guys sampled Infinity Guitars & Riot Rhythm for “Stars” but we were not contacted. Gotta clear those.

— SLEIGH BELLS (@sleighbells) November 2, 2015

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