Judge Halts Notorious B.I.G. Album Sales

[Fenris]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A judge halted sales of Notorious B.I.G.'s breakthrough 1994 album "Ready to Die" after a jury decided the title song used part of an Ohio Players tune without permission.

The jury Friday awarded $4.2 million in punitive and direct damages to the two music companies that own rights to Ohio Players recordings.

The sales ban imposed by U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell affects the album and the title song in any form, including Internet downloads and radio play.

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The jury decided that Bad Boy Entertainment and executive producer Sean "Diddy" Combs illegally used a part of the Ohio Players' 1992 song "Singing In The Morning."

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060319/ap_on_en_mu/rap_sampling_verdict

[no name no slogan]

1. Diddy? Ripping people off?

Wow, didn't see THAT one coming :crazy:

[Fenris]

3. Although ripping off the Ohio Players...odd choice.

:eyes:

"BIG is dead. I can't write something original. Hey, here's Sting's creepy stalker song!"

[no name no slogan]

4. Yeah. It's like ripping off the Partridges

at least he could rip off P-Funk or Earth Wind and Fire. Maybe he ripped off the Players because he didn't think they'd sue. This is pure speculation, of course.

[Fenris]

5. That actually makes a whole lot of sense.

When you think "Ohio Players" you don't think "litigious."

[no name no slogan]

11. Yeah, they're not as sue-happy as, say, Gilbert O' Sullivan

or Metallica.

[Hissyspit]

2. It's only sold like a BILLION copies already.

I can go get a used one right now.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Did Tupac have a comment?

;)

[Fenris]

8. They should hold a seance and get his opinion!

:D

[DS1]

7. Biggie's dead, people should stop using his name for their own gain

and besides, Biggie totally fucking sucked gangrenous balls.

[Fenris]

9. I noticed you threw gangrenous in there.

;)

[ghostsofgiants]

10. Agreed.

And as far as dead rappers go, Big L is where it's at.

[no name no slogan]

12. Hell no. Scott LaRock from BDP could kick his punk ass

with both decomposed arms tied behind his back

[ghostsofgiants]

13. Hmm, forgot about Scott LaRock. Good call.

[no name no slogan]

14. He's been dead for quite awhile

and can't forget Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC either. They were the first rap group I actually liked, way back when

[ghostsofgiants]

15. But Jam Master Jay was a DJ, not a rapper.