Jay Z “Big Pimpin” Lawsuit Now Includes Live Nation
It’s becoming to be the lawsuit that will never end.
A family member from the deceased Egyptian composer who created the sample used by Jay Z in the song “Big Pimpin” now turns into a new case against concert promotion company Live Nation for copyright infringement .
Osama Ahmed Fahmy initially sued Jay Z, MTV, Paramount Pictures, Warner Music, and others alleging the hook for “Big Pimpin’,” which was released in 2000, was taken from “Khosara, Khosara,” which appeared in the 1960 Egyptian film Fata Ahlami. Now Fahmy’s saying Live Nation is also responsible as well.
According to the suit, “Big Pimpin’” has been mentioned regularly in Jay Z concert previews and a “substantial percentage of people who purchased tickets to Jay Z’s shows hoped he would perform ‘Big Pimpin’,’ expected he would perform Big Pimpin’, and would have been disappointed if he had not performed ‘Big Pimpin’. Live Nation has profited substantially from Jay Z’s performance of Big Pimpin’, including, but not limited to, profits from ticket sales, merchandise, parking, concessions, and other revenue streams.”
Fahmy is suing Live Nation for damages and profits. He also seeks an injunction prohibiting Live Nation from promoting, producing or facilitating any live performance of “Big Pimpin’.” Jay Z has been involved with a lawsuit over his hit song Big Pimpin’ for eight years.
There was a settlement deal in 2001 between Big Pimpin’ producers and EMI, which once asserted rights to “Khosara, Khosara.” But this deal expired in 2006, and Fahmy says that it’s void because the real owners of “Khosara, Khosara” never agreed to it. “Earlier this month, Fahmy brought a summary judgment motion arguing that Jay Z was not conveyed a valid license to make the sample. A hearing is scheduled on the matter in late March,”