$100 MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST T- PAIN, DJ KHALLED, RICK ROSS, & OTHERS BY NEW ORLEANS JAZZ BAND

T PAIN, DJ KHALED, & RICK ROSS

A new lawsuit has been filed against popular producers T-Pain and DJ Khaled, as well as rappers Rick Ross, Pitbull and Cash Money Records, and dozens of other publishing companies and record labels affiliated with the producers.

A lawsuit has been filed by Paul Batiste, who represents The Batiste Brothers band, a popular jazz ensemble that was founded in 1976, in New Orleans.

The lawsuit, which was filed in United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana last week, accuses dozens of producers, rappers and record labels of stealing The Batiste Family’s music and illegally incorporating it into their own, without permission or compensation.

The 118-page lawsuit specifically names T-Pain, DJ Khaled, Pitbull, Rick Ross, Ace Hood and Cash Money as defendants, who have released “an immense number of songs infringing upon Plaintiff’s catalog.”

The lawsuit claims popular songs like "Blame It,” and “Booty Wurk” by T-Pain and “All I Do Is Win,” by DJ Khaled were taken from various songs created by The Batiste Family.

The group, which has been a major influence on the New Orleans jazz scene, is popular in Louisiana and even has its own school and a marching band named after them.

The lawsuit names dozens and dozens of songs produced by the aforementioned, that allegedly illegally incorporate The Batiste Family’s music.

“Defendants have blatantly poached beats, lyrics, melodies and chords from Plaintiff’s songs,” the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit claims that “many of the Defendants songs have been released multiple times, in multiple versions and that each release constitutes an independent act of copyright infringement.”

The lawsuit claims damages are believed to be in excess of $100,000,000.

In addition to the rappers and producers, numerous publishing companies owned by the defendants, as well as a number of record labels including Def Jam and RCA/Jive, are named in the lawsuit.

Batiste is seeking a full accounting, award of actual damages, as well as profits and a permanent injunction to prevent the defendants from using any more infringing material without permission.