Lizzo faces copyright infringement lawsuit over an unreleased song.
Lizzo, the Grammy-winning artist born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, is currently facing a lawsuit from GRC Trust over alleged copyright infringement tied to a song that has yet to receive a commercial release. The suit, filed against both Lizzo and her label, Atlantic Records, claims that her track “I’m Goin’ In Till October” incorporates elements from “Win or Lose (We Tried)” without obtaining the necessary licensing rights.
According to court documents reviewed by various media outlets, GRC Trust alleges that Lizzo and her team attempted to negotiate the rights to sample the original song but were unsuccessful. In response to this alleged unauthorized use, GRC Trust is seeking damages, as well as an injunction to prevent the exploitation of their copyrighted material.
Although Lizzo’s new song has not been commercially available, it garnered considerable attention on social media in August when she used it to parody a widely discussed controversy surrounding an advertisement for American Eagle jeans featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. The ad drew criticism for being interpreted by some as a promotion of eugenics, amplifying the scrutiny of both the ad and the public’s perception of it through Lizzo’s comedic lens.
This legal encounter is not Lizzo’s first involving copyright claims. In 2022, she resolved a lawsuit related to her famous song “Truth Hurts,” settling with musician Mina Lioness who asserted that Lizzo had appropriated her work. Furthermore, in 2019, Lizzo faced accusations from CeCe Peniston regarding her hit song “Juice,” which Peniston claimed bore undeniable similarities to her own 1992 track, “Finally.” At that time, Atlantic Records defended Lizzo, asserting that there was “no substantial similarity” between the two songs, a claim that Peniston disputed.
The ongoing dispute illustrates the complexities surrounding music copyright issues, particularly for artists who are navigating the fine line between inspiration and infringement. As music continues to evolve and intertwine, the question of originality in art remains a pressing concern, both for creators and for those who claim ownership of their work. The outcome of this lawsuit will likely have implications for the broader conversation about intellectual property rights within the music industry.
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