Kanye Wets has been hit with another lawsuit, this time by a German singer who says the Chicago native’s values do not align with her own.
In her lawsuit, Alice Merton claims Ye used her song “Blindside” in an unreleased Vultures track without authorization. She says that she turned down his request to sample the track but that he went ahead anyway.
Merton’s lawsuit alleges Ye “willfully engaged in the infringement of copyright with the composition of ‘Gun to the Head,’ which contains an unauthorized sample” of the song.
Merton explained to Ye’s camp her reasons for declining his request.
“Alice Merton was unwilling to compromise her personal beliefs and wanted not to be associated with [West] in any manner.” the filing reads in part. “Of significant concern to plaintiff Merton, were defendant [West’s] antisemitic, racist remarks which were made publicly and continue to be made publicly.”
“Merton is a German resident who has close ties to the Holocaust through Jewish family members who survived horrors and as such feels closely connected to it.”
The court documents continue:
“Plaintiffs were damaged by that infringement based on their ownership of the composition, including 50% of the publishers’ share and the writers’ share of those rights,” the court documents read.
She is suing for “injunctive relief and damages” for the alleged copyright infringement and unfair competition.”