Cardi B filed a lawsuit against Texas, contending that the plaintiffs never registered copyright for their song “Greasy Frybread.”
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Cardi B is pushing to close copyright lawsuits on Texas track “Enough (Miami)” that argues that the plaintiffs never registered their song “Greasy Frybread” and cannot legally sue her in the state.
The hip-hop star and his record labels (Atlantic Recording Corp. and Warner Music Group) filed a motion to dismiss the case filed by Texas artist Sten Joddi and producer Kemikal956.
Joddi (real name Joshua Frausto) and Kemikal956 (Miguel Aguilar) released “Greasy Frybread” in 2021. The song appears in the FX TV series “Reserve Dog”.
The duo claims Cardi B’s 2024 solo removes elements from its composition, especially the melody and bass lines, but not the lyrics.
But according to Cardi B’s legal team, the entire case has been legally flawed from the very beginning.
“To file a federal claim requires copyright registration to be made…the lack of copyright registration also destined to these claims because, as mentioned above, registration is required before any “civil lawsuits for copyright infringement in any U.S. job,” Andrew W. Andrew Pequignot wrote in the action any civil lawsuit.
The plaintiff initially filed a federal copyright claim, but the claim could not go forward as the work was not registered. They then tried to move to the common law copyright argument, which Cardi’s team claimed was invalid because federal law replaced state claims in these matters.
The lawsuit also includes claims of defamation, misappropriation and unfair competition.
But Cardi B’s lawyers believe it’s just a different way to say the same thing: She allegedly copied their music. Since all claims are based on that core allegation, they say the entire case is seized by federal copyright laws.
Beyond that, the team of the Bronx rappers believes that Texas courts should not be involved. Cardi B lives in New Jersey and her tags are located in Delaware and New York.
Cardi B’s legal team also criticized the producers for repeatedly changing their claims and did not make a consistent argument.
They asked the court to completely dismiss the case and prevent any further amendments.
