R. Kelly, Michael Jackson and more than a dozen music publishers have filed a federal lawsuit against Jay-Z’s 40/40 club in New York claiming it has engaged in “unauthorized public performance of musical compositions.
While Jay-Z is not named in the lawsuit, his 40/40 co-owners Desiree Gonzalez – who oversees operations and management – and Juan Perez are accused of ignoring licensing rules to avoid paying royalties on several songs, the New York Post reported.
A researcher for BMI made a surprise visit to the club in 2006 and found seven unlicensed songs booming through the sound system, including Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and “Don’t Stop,” R. Kelly’s “Thoia Thoing,” Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” and Omarion’s Pharrell-produced hit “Touch.”
Broadcast Music Inc. led the charge on behalf of Jackson, Kelly and the other artists and music publishing companies seeking unspecified damages for copyright infringement, reports the New York Post. The lawsuit was filed June 25 in Manhattan federal court.
