After taking a few losses in the courtroom recently, 50 Cent scored a very welcome win this week when an appellant court tossed out a lawsuit brought against him for copyright infringement. The case centered around "I Get Money" off 50's 2007 album, Curtis.
Atlanta rapper Tyrone “Young Caliber” Simmons stepped forward three years after the track was released and alleged he had purchased the song's main instrumental from producer Apex prior to 50 putting it out, and that he had exclusive rights to it.
The case was initially thrown out for exceeding the statute of limitations, a decision that was upheld by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday (Jan. 15). "Today the Second Circuit Court of Appeals vindicated Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent, in a copyright case relating to his 2007 hit record 'I Get Money,'" said 50's lawyer, David Leichtman. "The plaintiff in the case claimed that he was the owner of the underlying beat of the track, but the appeals court affirmed an earlier ruling that the plaintiff had waited too long to raise his complaint." Universal Music Group, Interscope Records, Aftermath Records, G-Unit Records, and Shady Records were also named in the lawsuit.
This news comes at a welcome time for 50 Cent, who has taken more than his fair share of lumps in a series of court proceedings recently. In July 2015, the rapper was ordered to pay $7 million to Lastonia Leviston, the mother of Rick Ross' child, for leaking her sex tape. Then, in the wake of that judgment came an array of bankruptcy proceedings. But even with a win today, 50 continues to keep his lawyers busy. In December 2015, he brought up a new case, a copyright infringement charge of his own, against Rick Ross for using his likeness on the Miami-based rapper's Renzel Remixes project. That case is still pending.
