Pop superstar Lizzo faces a fresh copyright infringement lawsuit from The GRC Trust, alleging her unreleased song “I’m Goin’ In Till October” illegally samples the 1970s soul ballad “Win or Lose (We Tried),” stirring debate over unmonetized snippets and a viral Sydney Sweeney reference.
The world of music is once again buzzing with legal drama as Grammy-winning artist Lizzo finds herself at the center of a new copyright infringement lawsuit. This time, the dispute revolves around a brief snippet of an unreleased song, “I’m Goin’ In Till October,” which gained significant traction on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The lawsuit, filed by The GRC Trust, highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding digital music distribution, especially for content that has not yet seen a commercial release.
The Core of the Complaint: Unauthorized Sampling
According to the complaint reviewed by Rolling Stone, The GRC Trust, a Georgia-based revocable trust, asserts that Lizzo infringed upon their copyright for a song titled “Win or Lose (We Tried).” This 1970s soul ballad was originally performed by the American band Windy City. The trust alleges that Lizzo‘s snippet, previewed in early August, incorporates, interpolates, and samples instrumental and vocal elements from their copyrighted composition without permission.
Despite Lizzo‘s song not being officially released or commercially monetized, The GRC Trust claims to have “suffered damages.” They contend that Lizzo, along with co-defendant Atlantic Records, “have obtained profits they would not have realized but for their infringement of GRC’s rights.” Efforts to resolve the matter informally with Lizzo’s team reportedly “reached an impasse,” leading to the formal filing of the lawsuit in a California court.
Lizzo’s Response and the Unreleased Status
Representatives for Lizzo expressed surprise at the lawsuit. In a statement shared with various outlets, including the BBC, they clarified, “To be clear, the song has never been commercially released or monetized, and no decision has been made at this time regarding any future commercial release of the song.” This defense highlights a critical point of contention: whether copyright infringement can be claimed for an unreleased, unmonetized social media snippet.
The legal team for The GRC Trust, however, is seeking not only compensation for alleged profits and losses but also an injunction to prevent the Lizzo song from ever being distributed. This underlines the severity of the claim, regardless of the song’s current unreleased status.
The Sydney Sweeney Connection and Viral Outrage
The “I’m Goin’ In Till October” snippet initially caught fire on social media due to a specific lyric referencing actress Sydney Sweeney: “bitch, I got good jeans like I’m Sydney.” This line came amidst a flurry of online controversy surrounding Sweeney‘s denim campaign with American Eagle in early August.
The American Eagle ad, starring the “White Lotus” and “Euphoria” actress, had itself sparked accusations of being a “white supremacist dog whistle” due to its tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.” While the outrage was largely confined to a smaller group of activists, it garnered attention, including senior Republicans like Ted Cruz lashing out at the “crazy left.” Lizzo‘s lyric, whether intentional or not, tapped directly into this viral discussion, amplifying the snippet’s reach and the subsequent scrutiny.
A History of Legal Battles: Lizzo and Sampling Disputes
This isn’t the first time Lizzo has faced legal challenges concerning her music. In 2019, her hit single “Truth Hurts,” which spent seven weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, was embroiled in a plagiarism claim. She later countersued the songwriters who initiated the complaint. While that countersuit was eventually dismissed, the involved parties reached a settlement in 2022. Notably, singer Mina Lioness, whose viral tweet inspired the iconic lyric “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch,” was eventually credited as a co-writer on “Truth Hurts,” as reported by Variety.
The “Truth Hurts” case, much like the current situation, shed light on the complexities of intellectual property in the digital age, where inspiration, interpolation, and direct sampling can blur lines. These ongoing legal discussions shape the precedents for artists navigating creative expression and copyright adherence.
GRC Trust’s Broader Legal Portfolio
Interestingly, The GRC Trust appears to be actively pursuing similar copyright infringement claims. In September, they also filed a lawsuit against Kanye West, his company Yeezy, the company Kano, and rapper Vory. That case involved an alleged unauthorized sample of the song “Always Keep Your Love (Just Out of My Reach)” in West’s track “Lord Lift Me Up.” This suggests a pattern of enforcement from The GRC Trust regarding their publishing rights, with Jimmy Ginn listed as the owner of the publishing rights and Sam Dees as a composer for both “Win or Lose (We Tried)” and “Always Keep Your Love (Just Out of My Reach)” in BMI’s database.
The Fan Community’s Perspective: Art, Inspiration, and Law
For fans, these legal battles often spark intense discussions about the nature of artistic inspiration versus outright copying. When an artist like Lizzo, known for her vibrant and original persona, faces such claims, it raises questions about the creative process in an era of rapid social media sharing. Many wonder if a short, unmonetized snippet truly constitutes an infringement, while copyright holders emphasize the need to protect their intellectual property regardless of how the content is used.
The situation with “I’m Goin’ In Till October” serves as a powerful reminder of the delicate balance between creative freedom and legal obligations in the music industry. As the case proceeds, it will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing evolution of copyright law in the digital sphere, setting potential new standards for how artists engage with samples and how unreleased material is protected—or prosecuted.
