Drake loses in court against Universal Music over Kendrick Lamar song

Drake loses in court against Universal Music over Kendrick Lamar song


The Canadian rapper reported copyright infringement, but the court’s decision favors the record company and strengthens creative freedom in hip-hop

The legal dispute between rapper Drake and record label Universal Music Group has gained prominence since United States Justice reject the action proposed by the artist.

The process involved a diss track from the track Not like uspublished by Kendrick Lamar, which contains excerpts considered offensive and targeted provocation Drake. The Canadian claimed that the song improperly used copyrighted elements, but the court ruled that there was no legal infringement.

The controversy began when Kendrick Lamar launched Not like us as part of a series of traces of diss exchanged between the two artists. The track quickly went viral, being considered by many to be one of the most impactful rivalries. In response, Drake filed a lawsuit claiming that the song contained sections that infringed his intellectual property, including references to previous compositions and allegedly unauthorized samples.

However, the American court decided that the elements used by Kendrick Lamar they were within the legal limits of creative use. The decision highlighted that, in the context of hip-hop, the use of references, interpolations and provocations between artists is common, especially in diss tracks, which are part of the culture of the genre.

The court also held that Lamar’s streak has not substantially reproduced any of Drake’s protected worksand that the content has been classified as legitimate artistic expression.

Universal Music celebrates victory against Drake

THE Universal musical groupwhich it represents Kendrick Lamarcelebrated the decision as a victory for creative freedom. The record company claimed that the attempted censorship by Drake could set dangerous precedents for the music industry, limiting artists’ ability to express themselves through their works. The refusal of action reinforces the understanding that art, especially in genres like rap, must have room for criticism, discussion and innovation.

The judge Jeannette Vargaswho handled the case between Drake, Universal Music AND Kendrick Lamarhe regarded Drake’s accusations as “unchallengeable”. As a result, the case was considered closed by the court.

Once the trial is over, the two artists continue their careers, but the rivalry remains one of the most intense moments of the recent music scene. Not like us continues to be celebrated by fans and critics alike as Drake weighs his next steps following his legal defeat.

*use of artificial intelligence in research on the topic

Source: Terra

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