Demi Lovato Facing Copyright Infringement Lawsuit From Group Sleigh Bells

Singer Demi Lovato faces allegations for sampling a song by popular indie rock band Sleigh Bells without permission.

DEMI LOVATO BEING SUED BY SLEIGH BELLS

Band members Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller took their claim to the California federal court on Monday, alleging that Lovato’s song “Stars,” the bonus track off her newest album Confident, stole from their “Infinity Guitars” and “Riot Rhythm” off of their 2010 debut album Treats. The band took to Twitter to voice their complaint first back in November 2015.

A side by side of the songs prove that the lawsuit could hold some footing. “A comparison of the two songs reveals that, at the very least, the combination of the hand claps and bass drum, structured as 3 quarter beats and a rest, with the bass drum providing a counter-rhythm to the hand claps, is at least substantially similar in both works,” states the complaint. “This infringing material repeats throughout the Defendants’ song.”

“We did not use any samples in Demi Lovato’s song ‘Stars,’ Lovato’s reps said. “Demi was also not involved with the production. She only wrote top line.”

Sleigh Bells has not backed down. “I can confirm that the band feels their music has been sampled without proper clearance,” a rep tells Rolling Stone, “and are seeking all available remedies with Island Records.”

Lovato’s Confident debuted in October 2015, and the singer is currently on a North American tour to support the album. Sleigh Bells last LP, ironically named Bitter Rivals, was released in 2013.

Check out the three songs in question below.