- Music Producer Files $20 Million Lawsuit Against Dua Lipa Over Copyright Infringement
- Alleged Verbal Agreement at the Center of the Lawsuit
- Third Complaint Against Dua Lipa’s Song “Levitating” for Copyright Issues
Bosko Kante, a music producer, claims that three modifications of a British singer’s song infringed on his copyright by using his recording. He believes he is entitled to more than $20 million (£15.7 million).
It is alleged that Dua Lipa was not granted permission to include a musician’s “talk box” recording in her megahit Levitating.
Music producer Bosko Kante claims that three versions of the British singer’s song used his audio, violating his copyright.
He sued in Los Angeles for more than $20 million (£15.7 million) in track profits.
Kante cites an alleged verbal agreement stating that only the portion of the recording he made with his smartwatch could be included in the original recording of the song.
His neck-worn ElectroSpit Talk Box turns phone or synthesiser speech vibrations into instrument-like sounds.
Kante claims on his website that he has played the Talk Box on songs by Kanye West and J. Cole.
The lawsuit states that music producer Stephen Kozmeniuk approached Kante in 2019 about creating a Talk Box track for Levitating.
They orally agreed to a licence that limited the recording to the original composition and not remixes.
Kante claims that Lipa used his work without permission on two renditions by DJ The Blessed Madonna, one featuring rapper DaBaby and the other performed live by Lipa.
Third complaint regarding Levitating
Kante’s litigation is the third of its kind filed against Lipa and her song Levitating.
Florida reggae band Artikal Sound System filed a lawsuit against the singer in March 2022, asserting the song copied the hook from their 2017 single Live Your Life.
In June, the case was dismissed.
In an ongoing dispute, songwriters L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer claim that Lipa stole their melody from the 1979 song Wiggle And Giggle All Night.
Levitating was a top-five success in the United Kingdom and the longest-charting female artist song on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, spending a total of 77 weeks on the chart.
Dance The Night, a song by Lipa featured in the film Barbie is currently climbing the charts.
