Jay Z Wins In Court! Judge Dismisses Copyright Infringement Case

Timbaland paid $100,000 in 2001 to settle a claim about usage of Hamdi’s song, which was written for a 1957 film, and testified that he believed he had valid rights to use it.

Jay Z also said he thought he had a valid license to use the flute notes for the song that became his first major hit single.

Jay-Z

Jurors heard from witnesses who described contracts and copyright laws in both the United States and Egypt and music experts who offered dueling interpretations of how important the “Khosara Khosara” flute notes are to “Big Pimpin’.”

The flute notes are repeated throughout the song, which is a raunchy ode to a promiscuous lifestyle.

Pete Ross, an attorney for Fahmy, has said the rap’s lyrics are at odds with the love ballad that Hamdi composed, but Carter’s lyrics were not an issue in the case. Jurors heard the beginning of “Big Pimpin'” several times and saw a snippet of the music video, but the song was not played in its entirety during the trial. [Associated Press]

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