Judge to Determine whether Shakira’s Copyright Accuser Lied on the Stand
Shakira might have thought she was going crazy when she was accused of copying someone else’s song for her hit single “Loca.” But the judge that found her guilty of copyright infringement now plans to hold a hearing and determine whether Shakira’s accuser lied on the stand.
Shakira's Accuser Alleged to Use Fake Evidence
In August 2014, the judge ruled that the famous pop singer copied a song written by Dominican singer Ramon Arias Vazquez in the mid-1990s. But now, two units of Sony, defendants in the case, are saying that they have evidence that the cassette that he used to prove infringement is a fake. The evidence, if true, would show that Vazquez “attempted to commit a fraud upon this court, going so far as to fabricate evidence and to commit perjury,” according to the judge.
The song, also known as “El Cata,” topped the Latin charts when it came out. If the evidence turns out to be credible, it wouldn’t be the first time that an artist lied about coming up with a song idea first, but it would certainly be one of the more prominent and egregious examples.
Sources: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/26/us-shakira-copyright-idUSKBN0OB2KR20150526 http://www.latina.com/entertainment/buzz/shakira-copyright-accuser-may-have-lied
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