Drake’s Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Axed After Plaintiff Harassed Prosecutors

Drake

Drake’s Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Axed After Plaintiff Harassed Prosecutors

During the summer, Drizzy was named in a copyright infringement lawsuit that has now been tossed out.

Court documents obtained by AllHipHop state that Micheldeangelou Perfvwaybelayou, also known by the rap moniker Angelou Skywalker, accused Drake of stealing his song “Reach For Skies” for “Way 2 Sexy.” Angelou Skywalker claimed Drake’s label, Universal Music Group, accessed his song when he uploaded it to the UMG-owned site, Spinnup. However, a judge solidified that there weren’t many similarities between the two songs to warrant a victory. Along with Angelou Skywalker’s erratic behavior, Drake, full name Aubrey Drake Graham, eventually walked away unscathed.

Court documents read:

“The court finds that while Plaintiff does allege ownership of a valid copyright, he does not allege facts to show Defendants’ access to Plaintiff’s song nor substantial similarity. The court grants defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint in its entirety.”

It continued:

“The common short words that Plaintiff emphasizes in both his and Defendants’ songs are not protectable elements of his work. They are similar to––and in some instances, more ubiquitous than––other words and phrases that courts have held not to be protectable. Here, common words like ‘sexy,’ ‘yeah,’ ‘kickin’,’ ‘okay,’ ‘action,’ ‘scenes,’ ‘where,’ ‘been,’ ‘today,’ ‘make,’ and ‘hundreds,’ among others that Plaintiff emphasized, are not protectable, nor is a phrase like ‘wa-pow.’”

The paperwork stated that Skywalker repeatedly troubled prosecutors with a series of emails, while sending Judge Kollar-Kotelly a lewd photo and filed nearly 50 non-relevant motions. The court described it as “repeated misconduct.” In one of the emails, Skywalker allegedly wrote:

“Attached is a motion for ruling sent to you of this day 6/7/2022. Tell Aubrey that if he doesn’t show up then I’ll become Adonis’s Dad one day while he’s off sniffing up other stinky butt bites thinking about the next way to set they pum-pump p#### on fire.” 

In another email he allegedly said:

“Oh you guys just not going to reply? That’s no fun. You lot are no fun. Hope you’re not racists as well! Good night to you!! […] You tell Mr. Graham to bring his behind on over to Washington D.C. and see this straight.”

The defendants were mandated to file an emergency motion for a protective order in June after Skywalker reportedly threatened their families. The documents stated:

“The Plaintiff sent an email communication that appears to threaten the undersigned counsel and their families as well as other threatening emails, including one suggesting that Defendants’ counsel should be ‘captured’ and ‘detained.’”

The documents added:

“Perfvwaybelayou must stay more than 100 yards away from Defendants’ and Defendants’ counsels’ places of business and stay more than 100 yards away from and have no contact with Defendant’s counsel, except at judicially sanctioned events.”

The Canadian rapper released “Way 2 Sexy” featuring Young Thug and Future in September 2021. The track is included on his sixth studio album, “Certified Lover Boy,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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