Tyler Perry's impeccable talent for theater and screenplay has catapulted him into the height of Hollywood's elite fleet of producers. Not to mention, the New Orleans native has a distinctive ear to detect and mesh the perfect song to compliment his various projects.However, not everyone is thrilled with Perry's work, especially if they're being ripped off as one songwriter recently claims.
According to TMZ, a lawsuit was filed by Johnny Tyrone Stringfield on Feb. 3 in a Los Angeles federal courtroom, stating the 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' creator lifted the lyrics from his 2008 copyrighted song titled, 'I Got Away.'
Apparently the gospel track was used in an 2009 episode of Perry's TBS network series 'Meet the Browns,' in which Stringfield states several of the show's characters belted out the lyrics "The Devil thought he had me ... but I got away."
And Stringfield is not letting Perry get away with it, either.
The songwriter wants Tyler to fork over $100,000 to make sure him and his legal team stays away. And from the sound of it, he's already two-stepping to his own beat. "My family and I have always loved Tyler Perry -- and now we're going to love him a whole lot more," he told TMZ.
(You be the judge: check out the similarities between the two songs here.)
To Perry's dismay, this isn't the first time he's being slapped with a copyright infringement lawsuit. Last year, he was accused of using portions of Bertha James' 1950 Gospel track, 'When I Think of the Goodness of Jesus' and incorporated it without permission in his hit film, 'Madea Goes to Jail.'
TMZ reported that the song's chorus was used within a monologue spoken by lead character, Madea.
Lionsgate Entertainment, who distributes Perry's movies, were also named in the suit, which seeks unspecified damages in excess of $75,000 for copyright infringement.
As of Nov. James's estate were also requesting a jury trial.
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=363055&pid=363054&uts=1265429493
http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf
Comments: (39)
Add a comment
By: Always Amazed... on 2/05/2010 10:33PM
Please! It's amazing what people will do for money...Wow! I'm just curious, didn't "Diary" come out several years ago? Then why the drama now, and if this is considered a "gospel" song, this would then make the writer a Christian with some type of spiritual background, correct? And, if this is the case, doesn't the Word specifically say that a brother should not take another brother to court? Just curious...I'm saying.
I'd also have to question the comment, "My family and I have always loved Tyler Perry--and now we're going to love him a whole lot more,"...I'm sure. Isn't this like an oxymoron or something...I love the gospel, but I'm gonna get mine! Wow! I'd have to ask when making this decision were you prompted by God or by mammon? Based on your conclusive measure, I'd have to say mammon, I'm sure!
But you know what, the Word also says to pray for those who despitefully use you. You know what,Tyler, my prayer for you would be to pray this prayer for this individual and his family along with their wonderful expression of "love" for you. I'd pray nothing but wonderful things for them and for their lives, and ask that they be prosperous in all that they set themselves to do.
Sow the good so you can continue to keep and endure only the good and leave the rest behind.
Keep on keepin' on!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Ayo J. Ashanti on 2/06/2010 1:25PM
Well,here we go again. These alleged songwriters of which relatively knows about are attempting to cash in on songs that everybody sings. The melodies are coming from a place inside of the singer, not knowing that someone else has actually written the song. To the singer it is an original.
It shows that the so-called writer is not that original, if someone else can sing the song not having ever heard it.
Report This
By: COCOBRWN69B on 2/06/2010 8:45PM
No need for me to respond I think u covered it well
Report This
By: Helen Thomas on 2/08/2010 8:20PM
Tyler claims to be a Christian, so that means he should do what is right. A relative of the songwriter wrote that Mr. Perry was nicely approached for over a year ago about compensation or at least recognition. Mr. Perry replied (my words, not his) get out my face or sue me. Now if you really know the WORD of GOD you would also know that the LORD commands that we make peace with our brother if we have a legal issue with him before he takes us to court....
Matthew 5: JESUS says...
25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.[a]
If you are going to go to the WORD, you should know it well enough to weigh everything by the discernment given through the HOLY SPIRIT. Else, keep your lack of spiritual understanding to yourself.
Have a nice day.
Report This
By: Always Amazed... on 2/08/2010 9:48PM
Helen:
Check out my blog
www.myspace.com/living_life_loved
You are way too personally involved!
Report This
By: Helen Thomas on 2/08/2010 10:21PM
And I need to read your blog for...why? You too are way too personally involved to have brought yourself up in here defending a thief and a robber without knowing or understanding the facts.
If I want to read something, I can read something with substance and weight.
Report This
By: Yolanda Albey on 2/06/2010 1:57AM
If they are calling this a copyright issue. Than every church group in America that sings a song, should also be sued. let's get real.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: MrChew on 2/06/2010 11:07AM
EXACTLY, NUFF SAID!!! BECAUSE EVERY CHURCH IN THE WORLD USES THAT LINE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE FEELING THE HOLY GHOST. I SWEAR BLACK PEOPLE ALWAYS TRYING TO SWINDLE ONE ANOTHER OUT OF SOMETHING. I HOPE TYLER DON'T PAY HIS A** SH*T, ONE THIN DIME!
KEEP FIGHTING TYLER BECAUSE THAT PHRASE IS NOT JUST HIS(AS HE'S CLAIMING), IT BELONGS TO EVERY CHURCH IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE. smmfh at this mess!
Report This
By: BFR on 2/06/2010 10:55PM
Only if they are getting money from the songs.
Report This
By: Helen Thomas on 2/08/2010 8:33PM
Obviously, you don't know how the royalties work. Christian owners of copyright works do get paid. Not only through ASCAP but through SESAC and others. I was a managing royalties accountant for a major record label. So I know that it isn't the artists who are making the money but the songwriters. Their copywritten material pays them publishing royalties. Look it up.
Further, most black folks have exhibited an aversion to understanding the workings of business as we know it in this country, especially the music industry. I can't begin to tell you how much black artists have been jipped out of by the music industry. My own cousins, Inez and Charlie Fox and Sam Cooke have estates that are owed thousands of dollars, but because 'ya'll' don't know nothin' and won't learn nothin', folks are struggling to pay bills that could be comfortably paid because of the labor of their forebears.
Report This