Travis Scott, SZA and Future are asking a judge to dismiss a copyright lawsuit over their 2023 hit “Telekinesis,” claiming they had permission from Ye to use the disputed track.
Gospel singer Victory Boyd sued the three artists in January, alleging they used her work without authorization. Boyd claims she wrote lyrics for an unreleased Ye song called “Ultrasounds,” which was later adapted into “Telekinesis.”
The defendants’ lawyers argue the lawsuit is flawed because Ye, who created the original demo’s chords, beat and melody, gave them express permission to use the track. They say Boyd cannot claim sole ownership of a song that Ye co-wrote.
“The facts will demonstrate that defendants’ use, if any, of the LTWIS work was duly authorized by Mr. West, as a joint author,” the artists’ attorneys wrote in their motion to dismiss filed Monday.
The defense also challenges the validity of Boyd’s copyright registration. They claim she initially filed with the U.S. Copyright Office in 2023 naming herself as the sole author of “Like the Way It Sounds,” which they say was false since Ye created the melody.
Boyd attempted to correct this last month by filing a new registration covering only the lyrics she authored. However, the defendants argue this is also invalid, stating that “lyrics cannot be copyrighted as a standalone work when created in tandem with, or as part of, an inseparable musical composition.”
Boyd’s attorney Keith White dismissed the motion as “a delay tactic” and said they will file opposition papers within two weeks. He expects the motion to be “summarily denied.”
“Telekinesis” spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023, reaching number 26.
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