Rapper Jayceon "The Game" Taylor has filed a lawsuit against Koch Entertainment and related companies. He claims 81 copyright infringements for releasing five CDs and a DVD without securing licenses for his compositions, according to Billboard.com.
The complaint alleges that before release of his 2005 multi-platinum debut album for Aftermath/G-Unit/Interscope, "The Documentary," he recorded "several dozen" songs with Joseph Tom, a.k.a. JT the Bigga Figga and his Get Low Recordz in 2001.
A written
agreement purported to give
Tom and his company the right to release the recordings, provided the Game was paid 50% of all gross profits, the complaint alleges. The deal did not assign the
Game's 50% copyright interest in the sound recordings for his performances as the lead singer -- or any copyright interest in the compositions for his words or lyrics, the suit claims.
The Game alleges that Koch, which released the CDs and DVDs through its Fastlife Records, did not secure rights or licenses from him; he has not received any compensation for those releases. The suit asks the federal District Court in Los Angeles for an injunction against Koch and damages for release of "The Game: Untold Story," "The Game: Untold Story Vol. II," "The Game: Untold Story Chopped and Screwed," "The Game: Untold Story Chopped and Screwed Vol. II" and "The Game: Untold Story Special Addition" (CD and DVD).
A spokesperson for Koch says, "The rights were legally obtained and purchased by Fastlife Records. We look forward to proving this in the court of law."
