The successful music producer Timbaland has reportedly agreed a settlement with composer David Cortopassi over a copyright infringement disagreement.
Cortopassi alleges that the producer illegally sampled his song ‘Spazz’ – originally recorded in the 1960s by The Elastik Band – on his 2007 controversial chart hit ‘Throw it On Me’ taken from his Shock Value album. Cortopassi filed a copyright infringement against Timbaland, claiming that he used parts of his track without permission.
Timbaland’s song, which also featured The Hives and the rapper Attitude, was a commercial success and sold over one million copies. It also garnered more revenue after being featured on an advert to promote Verizon’s Voyager phone.
The latest reports suggest that a settlement agreement between the two parties has been reached, although the details of the deal and the amount in damages have not yet been disclosed.
All professions involving copyright and patents require professional indemnity insurance cover for cases such as this, especially those in the entertainment industry. This sort of policy can cover all types of payouts, from settlements if the defendant wants to resolve the case quickly or claims for compensation or damages if a court finds in favour of the complainant.