Canadian rapper Drake has recently argued in a New York federal court against allegations of copyright infringement put forth by Ghanaian artist Obrafour. The latter claimed Drake had lifted a phrase from his 2003 hip-hop remix for use in his own song, “Calling My Name”.
Drake pinpointed a key detail in his defense: Obrafour, according to him, does not hold the rights to the disputed phrase. Instead, he argued that the copyright ownership belongs to another artist originating from the West African nation. The specifics of the alternative copyright holder were not provided.
Drake’s contention, if accepted by the court, could have significant implications for the lawsuit. Copyright law generally requires the plaintiff to be the actual owner of the disputed content. Therefore, Obrafour’s claim might face considerable challenges if they cannot prove ownership.
For more precise details on this ongoing legal battle, please refer to the original reporting from Law360.