Justin Bieber And Usher Sued For $10 Million; De Rico Accuses Duo Of Stealing Song "Somebody To Love"

Justin Bieber and Usher may want "Somebody to Love," but it doesn't look like De Rico will be one of them. De Rico (real name David Copeland) has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Bieber and Usher for $10 million, claiming that Bieber's hit song "Somebody to Love" is identical to a track of the same name from his 2008 album My Story II.

De Rico is now seeking $10 million in the lawsuit lleged copyright infringement, contributory infringement and vicarious infringement, as well as for a permanent injunction preventing Bieber, Usher and their fellow defendants from laying any further claim to the song's copyright.

Usher recorded "Somebody To Love" as a demo before handing it to Bieber, who then released it as a single on June 25, 2010. Copeland claims he was never approached about using the song or given any advance notice it would be included on Bieber's album.

"Without any authority or consent," the suit states, "[Manager Jonetta Patton] and Usher conspired with songwriters and producers...to directly copy Plaintiffs' song 'Somebody to Love,' intending to appropriate Plaintiffs' intellectual property as their own."

Heather Bright, who is officially credited with cowriting the Bieber track with production team The Stereotypes, is also named as a defendant, along with Patton, Universal Music Corp. and Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

"Somebody to Love" reached No. 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 10 on the Canadian Hot 100. In Japan, it went all the way up to No. 3 on the Japan Hot 100. The remix featuring Usher has also racked up 243 million views on YouTube.

Neither Bieber or Usher have commented on the lawsuit. Usher is currently shooting the current season of NBC show The Voice, which he is a judge on, while Bieber is in Dubai performing two concerts this weekend.

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