Facts

Osama Fahmy filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against hip-hop artist Shawn Carter professionally known as Jay-Z, music producer Timothy "Timbaland" Mosely, EMI Music Publishing Ltd., Kenji Kobayashi Music, MTV Network Enterprises Inc., Paramount Pictures Corp., UMG Recordings Inc., Universal Music., Warner Music Inc., and various others in connection with a song called Big Pimpin. The song was featured in Jay-Z's album Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter, released in 1999.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff's uncle composed "Khosara Khosara." The composer's heirs licensed the work to an Egyptian company, which then sublicensed it to EMI. EMI thereafter sub-sub-licensed the work to Jay Z and Timbaland who then used a sample of the work in Jay-Z's song, Big Pimpin. Plaintiff claimed that he, as an heir to his uncle's work, retained the right to approve or reject alterations to the original work under Egyptian law's "moral rights."

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants challenged plaintiff's authority. Defendants also claimed that plaintiff lacked standing.

Result

The judge ultimately ruled in favor of the defense, finding that Fahmy had no legal or beneficial ownership right to the work after having assigned all of his economic rights in the work to another. Accordingly, the judge dismissed the case with prejudice.

Other Information

FILING DATE: Aug. 31, 2007.