Previous Next Latest

Lil Wayne Sued By Rolling Stones’ Publishers For “Playing With Fire”

7/25/08, 8:58 am EST

Lil Wayne has been sued by the music publishing company that owns the rights to the Rolling Stones’ “Play With Fire,” as the company says Wayne’s “Playing With Fire,” off Tha Carter III, infringes on the song’s copyright and poses unfair competition. Abkco alleges that the Wayne’s song is an altered version of the Stones’ 1965 hit, saying the original song and music had been used in a recognizable way with permission. The lawsuit cites lyrical comparisons like the Stones’ original chorus “But don’t play with me, ’cause you’re playing with fire,” and Wayne’s line “But you can’t blame me if I set this stage on fire.” In the lawsuit, Abkco says that the public might assume the Rolling Stones approve of Wayne’s uses “explicit, sexist and offensive language.” Abkco is seeking unspecified damages, but if this case goes down anything like when the Verve got sued over that orchestral sample of “The Last Time” used in “Bittersweet Symphony,” Wayne might be giving back a bunch of his TC3 royalties money.

[Photo: Getty]


Previous Next Latest

Comments

Darius | 11/7/2008, 4:35 pm EST

See hahaha dey cat stop hip hop so they have2 sue LIL WAYNE MAKIN MORE MONEY DEN DE MA THEY CANT TAKE IT PLAYIN WITH FIRE IS A GOOD SONG

? | 11/6/2008, 12:43 am EST

please let lil wayne shine

Eh | 9/26/2008, 11:40 am EST

Didn’t know that was Rolling Stones… Thought of Jerry Lee Lewis for a sec though. No one makes original music anymore… Shit, if they’re suing hi, they should sue the other thousands of artists that do it too… Stupid

IESHEA | 9/24/2008, 6:51 pm EST

LIL WAYNE MADE A BETTER VERSION OF THE SONG ROLLING STONES WAS JUST JEALOUS THAT LIL WAYNE VERSION WAS BETTER ROLLING STONES STOP HATEING BITCHES HATEING AINT GOOD FOR U

CJH09 | 9/16/2008, 1:32 pm EST

LIL WYANE IS THE SHIT

Kelcey | 9/3/2008, 8:52 am EST

I think thats bullshit, lil wayne made a good song outta that… who gives a shit if he altered it… he made it his own, and he’ll probably make his version more famous than the one thats been out…

what a noob | 8/4/2008, 5:35 pm EST

little wayne sucks balls period

Uuuuuuggggh Greedy Lawyers!!! | 7/27/2008, 1:54 am EST

Went to Youtube to listen to the Rolling Stone “Playing with Fire” there is simply nothing that would have made me think that song….believe it or not Kevin Federline had a song with the same title on his album; there have been phrases in other songs and movies which say the same thing; that phrase isn’t unique and Lil Wayne song sounds nothing like there song….

Joe | 7/26/2008, 1:06 pm EST

(sigh) It’s OK for the Rolling Stones to do this, but everyone on this blog loves to use the word “sellout” when talking about commericalized, poppy groups like the Jonas Brothers.

elric | 7/26/2008, 5:09 am EST

ive listened to the stones song millions of times and didnt even notice, because theres nothing to notice. no sonic similarities. barely lyrical similarities.

sy | 7/25/2008, 9:31 pm EST

i hope he pays severely

garysi | 7/25/2008, 5:54 pm EST

he should have asked permission first. I am surprised his manager and/or label didn’t warn him about the Stones. It’s well known they have some of the best legal minds in the business, watching out for just this type of infringement. Easy Money and maybe an easy Grammy for them.

mattdiggsit | 7/25/2008, 5:54 pm EST

The songs are COMPLETELY different. The words are COMPLETELY different. Stupid lawyers.

Guy | 7/25/2008, 4:58 pm EST

The comparison is so insignificant. I can’t believe that record companies would go this far. They are ruining music. Why don’t they just keep releasing Miley Cyrus shit cause thats real music.

Big Wayne | 7/25/2008, 3:07 pm EST

awesome - you took the words right out of my mouth

awesome | 7/25/2008, 1:14 pm EST

i dig it when talentless douche bags get hit with lawsuits. better than coffee for me, personally.

Logan | 7/25/2008, 12:42 pm EST

I wish that the actual band involved would get involved in disputes like this more often, instead of just the people who own the rights. They just realized that he was taking in a ton of cash, and that they could probably snatch up some of his earnings. MCs take from each other all the time. The difference here is that Wayne taped in to the realm of Rock&Roll, and The Rolling Stones at that. So companies like Abkco will use the name of the legendary band to steal from Wayne. Lil Wayne is probably just a fan of the original song. Leave it be, dear God. I would like to hear what the Stones themselves would say about this, but Abkco probably doesn’t, not really anyway. It’s a sham.

shampaine | 7/25/2008, 12:29 pm EST

watup

Chris | 7/25/2008, 12:15 pm EST

Yeah cause the Stones are a shining example of not using expicit, offensive, sexist lyrics. Brown Sugar anyone?

Anonymous | 7/25/2008, 12:14 pm EST

“Abkco says that the public might assume the Rolling Stones approve of Wayne’s uses ‘explicit, sexist and offensive language’.”

Yeah because Brown Sugar is just sexist, explicit and offensive enough for the Stones.

Nayer | 7/25/2008, 10:28 am EST

Stick it to him!

Post A Comment

Caution: Off-topic comments will be deleted

Name:

Comments:



Advertisement

Advertisement