Jay Z, Timbaland Attend the Opening of 'Big Pimpin' Trial
Jay Z and Timbaland were in the same room together, but this time they weren't creating their next hit.
On Tuesday (Oct. 13), Hov and Timbo attended the start of the “Big Pimpin’” civil trial that has been eight years in the making (seriously). The pair is facing a lawsuit for violating the rights and misusing music from a popular 1950s love ballad by Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi called “Khosara Khosara.”
The copyright infringement claim was brought to their attention by a relative of Hamdi. The nephew claims that “Big Pimpin’” stole elements of the 1957 hit without proper permission.
In front of a jury that consisted of six men and two women, lawyers for Jay Z and Timbaland defended their clients by saying they’ve secured the appropriate rights. In Timbaland’s case, he initially used Hamdi’s work believing it was royalty-free, but would later on secure the proper rights.
Hamdi’s lawyer Pete Ross says the two violated Hamdi’s “moral rights,” which is a legal concept that requires them to get permission to use any elements of the song. Timbaland’s lawyer, Christine Lepera denied that accusation by saying Hamdi’s heirs have been paid for incorporating the music into “Big Pimpin’.” She even denied that they even used much of the song at all, but rather bits and pieces that aren’t considered copyrightable.
The trail is set to resume on Wednesday.
Neither Jay Z nor Timbaland looked worried when they left the court room.
106 & Rewind! We’ve got the real stories behind some of Timbaland's most iconoic beats in the highlights video below: Inside the Producer’s Studio – Timbaland.
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(Photos from left: John Lamparski/Getty Images, Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for EDITION)
