A federal judge on 21 October threw out a copyright-infringement lawsuit that accused rapper Jay Z and hip-hop producer Timbaland of using an Egyptian musicians melody without permission in their hit song Big Pimpin. US District Court Judge Christina A Snyder threw out the case after ruling that the rights to late musician Baligh Hamdys 1957 song Khosara, Khosara were appropriately acquired by Jay Zs record label.
Snyders decision came after three days of trial testimony. Hamdys nephew Osama Ahmed Fahmy had filed a complaint in 2007, alleging that Jay Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, and his team had used his uncles song without permission.
Jay Z testified at the trial last week, telling the eight-member jury that acquiring rights to songs was not his responsibility. Hip-hop producer Tim Timbaland Mosley said he believed Hamdys track was license-free, but once he learned of the complaint, he paid $100,000 (£64,600, €88,350) to EMI Music Arabia to acquire the rights. Hamdys melody is sampled in the chorus of Jay Zs 1999 hit Big Pimpin.
