Beyonce Sued for Stealing ”Survivor”
By Lia Haberman
Beyonce may be a “Survivor,” but one man is claiming she got a little help along the way.
A Miami-based producer is suing Knowles, her father and fellow Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams (news) for $200 million, claiming they ripped off his music for use in the 2001 hit single “Survivor.”
Knowles’ publicist issued a “no comment” on Tuesday when asked about the allegations.
Terrence “T-Robb” Robinson says the song swiping occurred after he produced a track called “Glorious” in June 2000 and, four months later, sent it to Beyonce’s father and Destiny’s manager, Mathew Knowles.
Robinson’s attorney, who filed suit in Houston on October 14, says his client was unaware that the song had been used until he heard it on a commercial.
Now, Robinson’s lamenting what could have been. “I know right now I would be one of the biggest, most sought-after producers,” he said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Attorney Peter J. Clarke admits that Robinson’s song wasn’t originally copyrighted when he passed it along to Matthew Knowles, though it later got copyright protection.
“Ultimately at the end of the day, what is going to decide this lawsuit is the music,” said Clarke.
“Suvivor” comes from Destiny’s Child bestselling 2001 album of the same name. The title song ranked second that year in overall single sales and scored the women a Grammy in 2002 for Best R&B performance.
According to the Associated Press, Beyonce’s attorney, Thomas Sulkerson, had not yet seen the lawsuit as of Tuesday.
Also named in the megabucks suit is Sony Music Entertainment, Columbia Records, Music World Entertainment and State of Mind Muzic Inc.
It’s the second lawsuit sparked by “Survivor.” Last year, former members LeToya Luckett and Latavia Roberson sued the R&B group over a lyric in the Grammy-winning song they claim caused them irreparable harm.
Luckett and Roberson were ticked over the line: “You thought that I’d be stressed without you/But I’m chillin’/You thought I wouldn’t sell without you/Sold 9 million.”
While Beyonce denied the lyric had anything to do with the two singers, an undisclosed settlement was reached with the former Destiny’s children.
E! Online