Rapper Jayceon “The Game” Taylor has filed a lawsuit against Koch Entertainment and related companies. He claims 81 copyright infringements for releasing five CDs and a DVD without securing licenses for his compositions.
The complaint alleges that before release of his 2005 multi-platinum debut album for Aftermath/G-Unit/Interscope, “The Documentary,” he recorded “several dozen” songs with Joseph Tom, a.k.a. JT the Bigga Figga and his Get Low Recordz in 2001.
A written agreement purported to give Tom and his company the right to release the recordings, provided the Game was paid 50% of all gross profits, the complaint alleges. The deal did not assign the Game’s 50% copyright interest in the sound recordings for his performances as the lead singer — or any copyright interest in the compositions for his words or lyrics, the suit claims.
The Game alleges that Koch, which released the CDs and DVDs through its Fastlife Records, did not secure rights or licenses from him; he has not received any compensation for those releases. The suit asks the federal District Court in Los Angeles for an injunction against Koch and damages for release of “The Game: Untold Story,” “The Game: Untold Story Vol. II,” “The Game: Untold Story Chopped and Screwed,” “The Game: Untold Story Chopped and Screwed Vol. II” and “The Game: Untold Story Special Addition” (CD and DVD).
“It is unfortunate that Koch has single-handedly ignored our request to halt distribution of the Game’s early demos,” says the Game’s manager, Jimmy Rosemond. “Koch has just released another illegal Game album, [and] this is a mere attempt to confuse Game’s fans as he is preparing to release his sophomore album in June with Aftermath.”
A spokesperson for Koch says, “The rights were legally obtained and purchased by Fastlife Records. We look forward to proving this in the court of law.”
