Rapper 50 Cent is being sued by a producer who alleges the star sampled a song by The Persuaders without permission.
Robert Poindexter, who worked on a number of tracks for the 1970s R&B group, has filed suit in New York accusing the hip-hop star of using part of the band’s track Love Gonna Pack Up and Walk Out in a song called Redrum, which was released free online in 2009.
In the legal documents, obtained by TMZ.com, Poindexter states, “Fifty Cents (sic) has not denied the infringement, but appears to be basing his defense solely on a frivolous and immaterial claim that the illegal version is not being commercially exploited, but is given away for free.”
Poindexter is reportedly suing for unspecified statutory damages, plus $600,000 in punitive damages as well as interest.
Regardless of whether the Persuaders’ track is unrecognisable to the average listener, nobody like to see their work used without permission. The laws around sampling are complex as sites like Nolo.com and Music Law point out.
