Carly Rae Jepsen Sued For Copyright Infringement

Carly Rae Jepsen is being sued, in an action that names the Call Me Maybe songstress along with Owl City’s Adam Young as well as several performing rights groups and publishing companies.

Carly Rae Jepsen is being sued over the song “Good Time,” released in June by Jepsen and Owl City. “Good Time” climbed to number eight on the Billboard charts and was prominently played during the Summer Olympics. The hit was also featured in the trailer for Hotel Transylvania, and played on the TV shows Parks And Recreation, 90210 and The Office.

Jepsen is being sued by Alabama-based musician and songwriter Allyson Nichole Burnett, who claims that the Call Me Maybe singer and her collaborators borrowed heavily from her own song Ah, It’s a Love Song, released in 2010. Music publication.

Billboard explains:

“According to the complaint, the hook in Burnett’s song is a ‘unique vocal motif’ that is repeated throughout the song and ‘has a catchy pop vibe that both draws people in and sticks in people’s heads.’ … The song, on Burnett’s album ‘The Takeover,’ has been on sale in record stores and on digital outlets since 2010 and the lawsuit says it has also been licensed to MTV for the shows ‘The Hills’ and ‘Friendzone.’

Billboard continues:

“According to the complaint, ‘Defendants’ extensive access to ‘Love Song’ is sufficient to trigger the ‘inverse ration rule,’ whereby a reduced standard of proof of substantial similarity is required when a high degree of access is shown. However, the substantial similarity between the Original Motif and the Copied Motif … is striking under any standard of proof.'”

After news broke that Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City were being sued, reps for the stars did not comment on the suit. Burnett alleges she “suffered emotional and psychological damage” after fans asked her why she copied Jepsen’s song in the filing.