Osama Ahmed Fahmy v. Live Nation Entertainment Inc., ROC Nation LLC, and Does 1 through 10, inclusive
Published: Dec. 12, 2015 | Result Date: Oct. 21, 2015 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 2:15-cv-01158-CAS-PJW Bench Decision – Defense
Court
USDC Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Keith J. Wesley
(Ellis George Cipollone O'Brien Annaguey LLP)
Peter W. Ross
(Ross LLP)
Christopher M. Kolkey
(Downey Brand LLP)
Defendant
Christine Lepera
(Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp LLP)
Facts
Osama Fahmy was heir to Baligh Hamdi, a famous Egyptian composer who co-authored the song "Khosara, Khosara" around 1957. Fahmy sued Hip-hop artist Sean Carter, professionally known as Jay-Z, and others for alleged copyright infringement of Khosara.
Contentions
PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Fahmy contended that Jay-Z's song "Big Pimpin'" infringed his rights in the musical composition, Khosara. Specifically, he claimed that Jay-Z and others could not use the Khosara composition without plaintiff's consent.
DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants denied copyright infringement and contended that they held a license to use Khosara in Big Pimpin' and that Fahmy lacked standing to bring a claim for infringement against them.
Result
The court found that Fahmy lacked standing to bring the suit and therefore granted defendants' motion for judgment as a matter of law.
Other Information
FILING DATE: Aug. 31, 2007.
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