ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Bruno Mars And Mark Ronson Sued Over 'Uptown Funk'

Bruno Mars And Mark Ronson Sued Over 'Uptown Funk'

A rap trio has claimed the song is a rip-off of their 1979 hit single 'Funk You Up'

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson are being sued over their song 'Uptown Funk'.

According to TMZ, female rap trio The Sequence have filed a lawsuit against the duo over Uptown Funk's likeness to their 1979 hit 'Funk You Up'.

In court documents seen by TMZ, the group claim that the song has 'significant and substantially similar compositional elements' to their song.

When released, 'Funk You Up' was only the third ever rap song to get into the Billboard Top 50 Singles. Now, the women are asking for an undisclosed sum from Mars and Ronson.

This isn't the first lawsuit to be filed against the annoyingly catchy song, in September music publishing house Lastrada Entertainment Company Ltd, claimed that Uptown Funk was also 'copied' from Zapp's 1980 song 'More Bounce to the Ounce'.

The court documents, again seen by TMZ: "Mark Ronson failed in his goal to write something new. Substantial parts of 'Uptown Funk' were copied from 'More Bounce to the Ounce'.

"The significant and substantial similarities between the two songs have been widely commented on by ordinary observers, musicians, independent critics and commentators."

The case has some similarities to the one brought by the estate of Marvin Gaye against Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and T.I for their 2013 song 'Blurred Lines'.

Gaye's daughter Nona Gaye argued, and won, that the song was noticeably similar to Gaye's 1977 hit Got to Give It Up, Thicke and Williams were ordered to pay Gaye's family $7.3 million (£5.4 million).

Speaking after their loss, the trio released a statement which read: "While we respect the judicial process, we are extremely disappointed in the ruling made today, which sets a horrible precedent for music and creativity going forward.

Credit: PA

"Blurred Lines was created from the heart and minds of Pharrell, Robin and T.I. and not taken from anyone or anywhere else. We are reviewing the decision, considering our options and you will hear more from us soon about this matter."

They have since filed a counter-suit, in which they claim that you 'can't copyright a groove', which I think would make an excellent name for a new album, guys.

Source: TMZ

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Music, US Entertainment