Drake, Chris Brown, Sony Music, Slapped with $5M Lawsuit

Chris Brown, Drake, Sony Music, and YouTube face a copyright infringement and defamation lawsuit over the track 'No Guidance.'

Chris Brown has been slapped with a $5 million copyright infringement and defamation suit over his track “No Guidance,” featuring Drake, who is also named in the filing, alongside Sony Music and YouTube.

Filed by Tykeiya Dore and Marc A. Stephens, who allege that Chris Brown's song infringes on Dore's copyrighted track, “I Got It,” which they say they have tried to address in the past. Stephens, acting on behalf of Dore, submitted multiple notices of copyright infringement with YouTube and Sony Music Entertainment, demanding the removal of Brown's song.

Allegedly, Brown's team responded, arguing that the claim “lacks merit” as it stands, based on indefensible ideas, and asserting there is no substantial similarity between the two songs. Further, they argue Dore cannot prove Brown had access to her song, which is necessary to prove that purposeful infringement occurred.

YouTube initially suspended Stephens' account and ultimately declined to remove it Brown's music video. The parties are still involved in an ongoing dispute, with YouTube denying Stephens' takedown requests. “We've reviewed this matter and found that you haven't identified a work that is subject to copyright,” YouTube wrote in an email to Stephens. “For this reason, we cannot process your request.”

YouTube is named in the lawsuit, alongside its parent company, Alphabet Inc. and Google, for alleged defamations against Marc Stephens in the ongoing dispute over the takedown notice, when YouTube is said to have called Stephens' claims “fraudulent.” The suit seeks damages amounting to at least $5 million.

Other issues outlined in the suit include exhibits involving copyright registrations, comparison videos, and email correspondence between litigants and YouTube. Chris Brown is also the subject of an upcoming documentary highlighted his abuse allegations with a new victim, who has finally come forward after years.