Singer launches lawsuit against Skrillex and Justin Bieber

Skrillex and Justin Bieber are the subject of a lawsuit over the latter's track 'Sorry'.

American singer White Hinterland has filed a copyright infringement case against the pair, claiming the female vocal riff in the song was taken from her track 'Ring The Bell'.

She posted a lengthy statement on Facebook explaining her actions, detailing that Bieber's lawyers were fully aware that she had complained about the use of the sample.

"As many of you that follow my career and work have already recognized, Justin Bieber’s song 'Sorry' copies the vocal riff prominently featured in my song 'Ring the Bell.' The writers, producers, and performers of 'Sorry' did not obtain a license for this exploitation of my work, nor did they obtain or seek my permission.

"Like most artists that sample music, Bieber could have licensed my song for use in 'Sorry.' But he chose not to contact me. After the release of 'Sorry,' my lawyers sent Bieber a letter regarding the infringement, but Bieber’s team again chose to ignore me. I offered Bieber’s team an opportunity to have a private dialogue about the infringement, but they refused to even acknowledge my claim, despite the obviousness of the sample."

While the track appeared on Bieber's album 'Purpose', Skrillex produced and co-wrote the track, along with Bieber and three others.

[Via: Billboard]

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter