The cost of taking another songwriter's work without permission and illicitly leaking a remade version is $450,000. That's what Nicki Minaj will be paying Tracy Chapman to satisfy her copyright infringement claims over "Sorry," a derivative of "Baby Can I Hold You."
On Thursday, documents became public in California federal court reflecting the fact that Chapman had accepted Minaj's offer of judgment. As a result, the two will not proceed to a trial later this year. By accepting Minaj's offer, Chapman not only scores a win in the case and $450,000, the esteemed singer also avoids being responsible for costs had a jury eventually decided her claims weren't worth that amount.
Chapman filed the case back in October 2018. The suit came a couple months after Minaj had released her album, Queen. While "Sorry," a collaboration with Nas, wasn't on the album, Minaj allegedly leaked the song to Funkmaster Flex, a popular radio DJ, and the song then traveled on the internet.
Tracy Chapman's biggest songs
Tracy Chapman is best known for her hits 'Fast Car' and 'Give Me One Reason', along with other singles 'Talkin' 'bout a Revolution', 'Baby Can I Hold You', 'Crossroads', 'New Beginning' and 'Telling Stories'.
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