By Tasnim Oyshi
Staff Writer
On Oct. 21, Lizzo and her label, Atlantic Records, were sued for copyright infringement in California by a company based in Georgia named the GRC Trust. The claims made against the rapper stated that she sampled the song “Win or Lose (We Tried)” without permission, the rights to which are owned by the GRC Trust.
According to Variety, “Plaintiff Jimmy Ginn is listed as the owner of the publishing rights for “Win or Lose (We Tried)” in BMI’s database. Sam Dees is listed as the composer of the song, one of his 399 credits registered to the repertory.”
The song in which she allegedly used instrumental and vocal parts from “Win or Lose (We Tried)” is unreleased. In a now-deleted post on Instagram and TikTok from August, Lizzo introduced a segment of the song called “I’m Going’ in Till October” or “Good Jeans” by fans, according to the BBC.
In the short video, she made a reference that parodied the recently controversial American Eagle jeans commercial with Sydney Sweeney. She wrote the lyrics, “I got good jeans like I’m Sydney.”
The GRC Trust’s lawyers have stated that Lizzo and Atlantic Records made a profit by infringing on their rights and that because they could not resolve the matter “informally,” they had to take it to court, according to Variety. GRC is currently attempting to stop future distribution of the song and “seeking any profits Lizzo and her label made, as well as damages and attorneys’ fees.”
In a statement to the BBC, Lizzo’s representatives expressed their surprise at the lawsuit. “To be clear, the song has never been commercially released or monetised, and no decision has been made at this time regarding any future commercial release of the song,” they stated. Additionally, it has yet to be copyrighted by Atlantic.
This will be Lizzo’s second time facing issues over copyright. In 2020, Lizzo was sued by Justin and Jeremiah Raisen and Justin “Yves” Rothman for copying their collaborative song with Lizzo, “Healthy” when making her hit track, “Truth Hurts.” In early August, however, the claims were dismissed by Judge Dolly M. Gee in the Ninth Circuit, according to Variety. They later came to an agreement out of court, as stated by the BBC.
Regarding the same song, singer Mina Lioness also made a claim that Lizzo’s usage of the line, “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that b----” came from one of her past social media posts. The same line was also apparently used in “Healthy.” Unlike the Raisens and Rothman, however, Lioness was later added as a co-writer of the song.
It is unclear how Lizzo and Atlantic Records will proceed with the case as “I’m Going’ in Till October” is an unreleased song and has not been copyrighted. So far, there have not been further updates in the case.
