Kanye West settles lawsuit over unauthorized use of Donna Summer’s song in Vultures 1

June 27, 2024

The estate of Donna Summer has reached a settlement with Kanye West, also known as Ye, over an alleged copyright dispute over Summer’s 1977 song “I Feel Love,” which appears on the 2024 album. Vulture 1.

Summers’ widower and her estate administrator Bruce Sudano filed a lawsuit in February alleging that West and Ty Dolla $ign, a collaborator of Vulture 1were not allowed to use their song. The track with the song has since been removed from the album by the streaming services.

Sudano said West shamelessly used “immediately recognizable parts” of the song despite being “expressly denied” permission to do so on February 3.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, further states that Summers’ estate administrators denied permission because they “did not want to have any connection with West’s controversial past.”

“In the face of this rejection, the defendants arrogantly and unilaterally decided that they would simply steal ‘I Feel Love’ and use it without permission,” the lawsuit states.

On June 20, attorneys for Ye and Summer’s estate said they had “entered into a settlement agreement that represents a complete and final resolution of all claims in the lawsuit.”

Both parties would bear their own legal costs.

Donna Summer performs at the Partnership for Public Service opening gala at Cipriani Restaurant on May 29, 2003. (Getty)

Larry Stein, lead attorney for Summers’ estate, said Billboard The settlement did not give West permission to use her music in the future.

“We didn’t license the song,” he said.

“As part of the settlement, they agreed not to distribute or use the song in any other way. So we got what we wanted.”

Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Summer, known as the Queen of Disco, died of lung cancer in 2012 at the age of 63.

“I Feel Love” was written by Summer, Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte for the late singer’s 1977 album. I remember yesterdaywhich is considered one of the first examples of electronic dance music.

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“Summer’s estate considered not only the immense commercial value of the composition ‘I Feel Love,’ but also the potential harm to Summer’s legacy,” the lawsuit states.

“West is known as a controversial public figure whose behavior has caused numerous brands and business partners to distance themselves from him.”

Album cover “Vultures 1” by Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign (YZY)

West, who changed his name to Ye in 2021, faced backlash in 2022 over allegedly anti-Semitic social media posts, with several brands including Balenciaga, JP Morgan Bank, Gap and talent scouting firm Creative Artists Agency cutting ties with him.

Adidas announced it would end its business relationship with West in 2022. An investigation found that the singer had engaged in sexually offensive and anti-Semitic behavior in the past, including telling a Jewish former Adidas executive to “hang a photo of Hitler in his kitchen and kiss it every day to practice unconditional love.”

The Independent has reached out to Ye’s representative for comment.