Hit hip hop recording artists Black Eyed Peas are once again being accused of copyright infringement – this time from one of the father’s of funk, George Clinton.
According to the lawsuit, the Black Eyed Peas used samples from Clinton’s 1979 song, (Not Just) Knee Deep, to create remixes of their single Shut Up.
Clinton is seeking $150,000 US per instance of copyright violation as well as an injunction against further distribution.
This marks the fourth time this year that the Black Eyed Peas have been accused in a copyright scandal. In October, two separate but similar suits were filed against them for copying the songs of lesser-known artists Bryan Pringle and Phoenix Phenom.
Last year, British DJ Adam Freeland accused the group of copying his song Mancry for their track Party All the Time. Reportedly, the lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
Just earlier this month, Harry Wayne of KC and the Sunshine Band, spoke out the prominent use of the 1983 hit Give It Up in the Black Eyed Peas song Love You Long Time. As with George Clinton, it seems the hip hop group did not secure proper permission, nor did they give credit in the liner notes for their album The Beginning.