Cameroon singer sues Jackson, Rihanna for musical hook
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 | 1:57 PM ET
CBC News
African musician Manu Dibango has launched a new copyright infringement lawsuit against Michael Jackson, this time adding chart-topping pop star Rihanna to the mix.
The acclaimed 75-year-old Cameroonian singer and saxophonist filed the lawsuit in Paris, where he is based, on Tuesday, according to Agence France-Presse.
He claims that portions of Rihanna's 2007 song Please Don't Stop The Music — which features a memorable musical hook and lyrics from Jackson's 1980s classic Wanna Be Startin' Something — too closely resemble the Duala chant in his 1972 song Soul Makossa.
Dibango's lawyers have called for the courts to block music labels Sony BMG, EMI and Warner from receiving any profits from either Rihanna or Jackson's songs until the case is settled.
The suit seeks damages of €500,000, or about $757,000 Cdn.
Dibango previously pursued legal action against Jackson over the issue and the two sides came to an undisclosed financial settlement out of court.
When Jackson permitted the sample from his song to be licensed for Rihanna's track, no one consulted or contacted Dibango, his lawyers said.
There was no comment from either Jackson or Rihanna.
The French court is scheduled to release a decision whether to hear Dibango's case on Feb. 17.
