Donna Summer Estate Takes Legal Action Against Kanye West And Ty Dolla $ign Over Unauthorized Song Use
In a legal clash that’s brewing in the music world, the estate of Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco, is taking Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign to court over an alleged unauthorized use of her iconic song, I Feel Love.
The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, accuses Kanye and Ty Dolla $ign of infringing on Summer’s copyright by incorporating elements of I Feel Love into their track Good (Don’t Die) without proper permission. Bruce Sudano, Summer’s husband, leads the charge as the primary plaintiff in the suit.
According to court documents, the estate explicitly denied permission for the use of I Feel Love, yet Kanye and Ty Dolla $ign proceeded to use recognizable portions of the song anyway. The estate alleges that the musicians arrogantly disregarded the denial and proceeded to “simply steal” the song for their project.
Efforts by an entity named “Alien Music” on Kanye’s behalf to secure permission for the song’s use were met with rejection from the Summer estate. Despite this, Good (Don’t Die) was released without proper authorization, prompting legal action from the estate seeking $150,000 for each instance of infringement.
As the documents read, “Despite this denial, Defendants shamelessly used instantly recognizable portions of Summer’s hit song.”
The lawsuit goes beyond monetary compensation, emphasizing the importance of artists’ rights and the protection of musical legacies. Attorneys for the estate argue that the case is about more than just licensing fees; it’s about safeguarding Donna’s artistic vision and ensuring that her work is not exploited without consent.
Good (Don’t Die) debuted on Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s collaborative album, Vultures 1, amidst anticipation from fans. However, Sudano publicly denounced the unauthorized use of I Feel Love, highlighting the significance of copyright protection in preserving Summer’s musical legacy.
In a tweet to X, he wrote, “@kanyewest asked permission to use Donna Summer’s song I Feel Love, he was denied… he changed the words, had someone re sing it or used AI but it’s I Feel Love… copyright infringement!!!”
