Donna Summer Estate Sues Kanye West Over Unauthorized ‘I Feel Love’ Sample
The estate of the legendary disco icon Donna Summer has initiated legal proceedings against rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, and Ty Dolla $ign for their alleged unauthorized use of her song “I Feel Love” on their album Vultures 1.
Bruce Sudano, Summer’s widower and executor of her estate, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles. The complaint contends that West and Ty Dolla $ign, whose real name is Tyrone Griffin, unlawfully incorporated parts of “I Feel Love” into their track “Good (Don’t Die)” without proper authorization. This action follows the removal of the song from streaming platforms after an earlier complaint by the estate.
Representatives of Kanye West reportedly sought permission to use the song, but their request was denied by the Summer estate on February 3rd. Despite this rejection, the lawsuit alleges that West and Ty Dolla $ign proceeded to include re-recorded segments of “I Feel Love” in their album, a move deemed by the estate as “shameless” and unauthorized.
The complaint emphasizes the significant commercial value of the iconic composition and expresses concern about potential damage to Donna Summer’s legacy. It also cites Kanye West’s controversial history as a factor in the estate’s decision to reject the request for usage rights.
“I Feel Love,” co-written by Summer, Giorgio Moroder, and Pete Bellotte, is a seminal track from Summer’s 1977 album “I Remember Yesterday” and is regarded as one of the pioneering works of electronic dance music.
The estate is seeking maximum damages of $150,000 for each act of infringement, along with a court injunction to halt further dissemination of the song. While the disputed track has been removed from some streaming services, the lawsuit aims to address the alleged copyright violation and protect Summer’s musical legacy.
This legal action comes amidst Kanye West’s recent controversies, including past antisemitic remarks on social media. The rapper, who legally changed his name from Kanye West to Ye in 2021, issued an apology for his comments in December 2023.
