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The US rapper Kanye West again makes headlines. This time not only because of his controversial statements, but also because of a copyright lawsuit that was submitted against him. The German singer Alice Merton sued Kanye West before a federal court in the United States. This reports “TMZ”. The accusation: Kanye used a sample of her song “Blindside” in his song “Gun to My Head”, which was published on the album “Vultures” and in which Ty Dolla $ IGN and Kid Cudi also participate.
Alice Merton lists in the lawsuit that she wrote and recorded the song “Blindside” in 2022. It was not until December 2023-with the publication of the “Vulture” album-by listening to “Gun to My Head” that a sample of her song was used without approval.
In February 2024, two months after the publication, Kanye West tried to secure the rights retrospectively via BMG Rights Management. But Merton deliberately rejected the application. Not only for legal, but also for moral reasons. In her answer to BMG, she wrote that “the artist’s values ​​contradict our own values.”
Family connections to the Holocaust
The singer from Germany particularly emphasized her deep concern about Kanye Western Anti -Semitic and racist statements that would be documented and continued in public. Merton is himself a German citizen and, as “TMZ” writes, have family connections to the Holocaust. Some of their Jewish relatives survived the horrors of the Holocaust. This gives your rejection additional weight.
After rejection of the usage permit, Merton was massively attacked by fans of the rapper. She reports on a flood of threats and hate news that she would have achieved because of her decision.
Kanye West has repeatedly noticed in recent years by controversial statements about Hitler and the Nazi regime. His public sympathy for Adolf Hitler and his trivialization of National Socialism have not only brought him broad criticism, but also the loss of numerous business partnerships. Kanye West is now largely insulated in Hollywood.
So far there is no statement from Kanye West’s team
Alice Merton’s lawsuit could now have legal consequences. In addition to the accusation of unauthorized use of intellectual property, the public debate about Kanye’s political attitude and anti -Semitic rhetoric could also be fueled.
So far there is no statement from Kanye West’s team. It remains to be seen how the legal dispute develops and what effects this will have on the artist and his music projects.