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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Donna Summer’s estate sued YE and Ty Dolla $ign on Tuesday for what their lawyers say is the “blatantly” illegal use of their 1977 song “I Feel Love” in their collaboration “Good (Don’t Die).”
The copyright infringement lawsuit was filed in federal court in Los Angeles by Summer’s husband, Bruce Sudano, in his capacity as executor of the estate of the singer-songwriter and “Disco Queen,” who died in 2012.
The lawsuit alleges that when representatives of YEPreviously Kanye West, requested permission to use the song and were rejected because Summer’s estate “did not want any association with West’s controversial story.”
The lawsuit contends that the album instead “blatantly” included re-recorded portions of the song that were “instantly recognizable.”
“In the face of this rejection,” the lawsuit says, “defendants arrogantly and unilaterally decided that they would simply steal ‘I Feel Love’ and use it without permission.”
An email seeking comment from Ye’s representatives was not immediately returned.
“I Feel Love,” co-written by Summer, Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, is a hugely influential song from Summer’s album “I Remember Yesterday” that is considered one of the first instances of electronic dance music. The concept album had songs representing different decades. “I Feel Love,” with Summer’s ecstatic moans and her minimalist lyrics, was meant to represent the future.
“Good (Don’t Die)” was released on February 10 on Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s collaborative album, “About Vultures 1.” The lawsuit names both artists and Ye’s record label, Yeezy, as defendants.
The estate first publicly alleged copyright infringement in an Instagram post on Summer’s official account on the day of the album’s release.
He is seeking an injunction stopping any further circulation of the song and monetary damages to be determined at trial.
The song does not currently appear on the version of the album available on Spotify and other streaming services.