Justin Bieber Accused of Plagiarizing “Sorry”

Justin Bieber. Photo courtesy of Us Weekly.

Summary: White Hinterland is suing Justin Bieber and Skrillex for allegedly plagiarizing “Sorry.”

Will Justin Bieber be sorry for “Sorry?” He and his songwriting partner, DJ Skrillex, have been sued over their chart-topping hit. Musician White Hinterland sued the duo for copyright infringement, saying they lifted elements from her 2014 song “Ring the Bell.”

The alleged copying occurs at the beginning of both songs, when vocals ascend like Oh-Whoa-Oh. “Sorry” was released a year after “Ring the Bell.” White Hinterland may not be on the same level as megastar Bieber, but her song was streamed 500,000 times on Spotify.

White Hinterland, whose real name is Casey Dienel, said in her complaint that she informed Bieber’s team about the alleged infringement and included a musicology report that stated the songs were similar. She said he did not respond.

White Hinterland is also suing Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corporation and Universal Music. She is seeking damages, an injunction to stop further infringement, and a declaration of copyright infringement.

Bieber is facing a similar lawsuit for his song “Somebody to Love.” Musician Devin Copeland and his writing partner Mareio Overton claim Beiber and Usher copied their lesser known song of the same name.

To learn more about the “Somebody to Love” suit, read this article: Justin Beiber Ordered to Give Deposition in “Somebody to Love” Lawsuit

Copyright infringement cases against big artists are fairly common, but legal experts predicted that the Marvin Gaye’s family’s suit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell would making winning easier. In that suit, Thicke and Pharrell acknowledged their song “Blurred Lines” was inspired by Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up,” but they said theirs was original. A jury did not agree, and they awarded the Gaye family $7.4 million.