Currin v. Arista Records, Inc.

724 F. Supp. 2d 286, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37592, 2010 WL 1529486

• Court: District Court, D. Connecticut
• Decided: April 15, 2010
• Docket: Case 3:07-CV-1069 (RNC)
• Status: Published

Opinion

RULING AND ORDER

ROBERT N. CHATIGNY, District Judge.

The Magistrate Judge’s recommended ruling of February 25, 2010 (Doc. 187), recommends that the defendants’ motion for summary judgment be granted on the plaintiffs’ claims of copyright infringement on the ground that no reasonable trier could find that the two songs at issue are substantially similar. Plaintiffs, proceeding pro se, have filed written objections to the recommended ruling (Doc. 196). In their memorandum, they argue that summary judgment should not be granted because there are “eleven disputes of material fact.” Of these eleven “disputes,” only “disputes” five through eleven relate to the recommended ruling. 1 None of the arguments advanced in connection with these “disputes” (i.e. “disputes” five through eleven) provides a basis for denying the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, the recommended ruling is approved and adopted.

Plaintiffs contend that in ruling on the motion for summary judgment, the Court should consider the report of their expert witness, Mr. Mask. See Disputes 5, 10. The Magistrate Judge’s recommended ruling sustains the defendants’ objection to this report on the grounds that the report does not disclose Mr. Mask’s qualifications, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(2)(B)(iv), and plaintiffs have otherwise failed to show that he is qualified to provide expert testimony. See F.R.E. 702. Plaintiffs contend that the report should be considered on the merits because the failure to disclose Mr. Mask’s qualifications as an expert is attributable to their former counsel. As the recommended ruling makes clear, however, even if defendants’ objection to Mr. Mask’s report was overruled, and his report was considered on the merits, summary judgment still would be proper. See Recommended Ruling at 290-91, 291-92.

Plaintiffs next contend that they have a right to a trial at which they can show that Pharrell Williams lacks credibility. See Dispute 6. The recommended ruling does not rely on Mr. Williams’ testimony, however. Rather, it assumes for the purpose of ruling on the motion for summary judgment that Mr. Williams had access to the plaintiffs’ song and an opportunity to copy it. See Recommended Ruling at 289. Accordingly, Mr. Williams’ alleged lack of credibility is immaterial.

Plaintiffs contend that a trial also is necessary to enable them to prove that their song was produced in 1991 and thus predates the allegedly infringing work. See Dispute 7. It is undisputed, however, that plaintiffs’ song predates Williams’ recording. 2

Plaintiffs next contend that their work is protected by copyright. See Dispute 8. For purposes of summary judgment, the defendants have not disputed plaintiffs’ copyright ownership, as the Magistrate Judge correctly recognized. See Recommended Ruling at 289.

Plaintiffs contend that the two songs at issue share common errors and are therefore substantially similar. See Dispute 9. Plaintiffs did not raise this argument before the Magistrate Judge and, accordingly, it does not provide a proper basis for objecting to the recommended ruling. Even now, moreover, they do not identify any common errors.

Plaintiffs next contend that summary judgment is inappropriate because (a) their former counsel omitted to bring to the attention of the Magistrate Judge several material facts and (b) it is necessary to evaluate the credibility of the witnesses. See Dispute 10. Plaintiffs do not identify any material facts, however, and the credibility of the witnesses has no bearing on the issue of substantial similarity.

Finally, plaintiffs contend that their depositions disclose the existence of disputed issues of material fact requiring a trial. See Dispute 11. Here again, however, no such issues are identified.

Accordingly, the Magistrate Judge’s recommended ruling is hereby approved and adopted. Judgment will enter in favor of the defendants. The Clerk may close the file.

RECOMMENDED RULING ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

DONNA F. MARTINEZ, United States Magistrate Judge.

This is a copyright infringement action brought by plaintiffs Peter Currin and David Currin. 1 They allege that the defendants, Arista Records Inc. and Sony BMG Music Entertainment, distributed a song that infringes the plaintiffs’ copyright. 2 Pending before the court is the defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, doc. # 171. The motion should be GRANTED.

I. Factual Background

The plaintiffs allege that they own the copyright in a song titled I’m Frontin’, which they authored in or about 1993. They allege that a hit song issued by Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes, entitled Frontin’ 3 , infringes their copyright. 4 The complaint alleges that the defendants were involved in distribution of Williams’ song.

For purposes of this motion, the defendants do not dispute the plaintiffs’ copyright ownership and ask the court to assume for the sake of argument that Williams and/or others had access to the plaintiffs’ song and an opportunity to copy it. They move for summary judgment on the grounds that, even assuming that there was such access, no reasonable trier of fact could find the two songs to be substantially similar. Therefore, they argue, there was no infringement by Williams and, it follows, no contributory or vicarious infringement by the defendants.

II. Standard of Review

A party is entitled to summary judgment if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions, together with affidavits, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The party seeking summary judgment bears the burden of showing the absence of any genuine dispute of material fact. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). “A party opposing a ... motion for summary judgment bears the burden of going beyond the pleadings, and ‘designating specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’ ” Amnesty Am. v. Town of W. Hartford, 288 F.3d 467, 470 (2d Cir.2002) (quoting Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548). The court must view the evidence in the record in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, drawing all reasonable inferences in that party’s favor. See Weinstock v. Columbia Univ., 224 F.3d 33, 41 (2d Cir.2000).

III. Copyright Principles

“In a copyright infringement case, the plaintiff must show: (i) ownership of a valid copyright; and (ii) unauthorized copying of the copyrighted work.” Jorgensen v. Epic/Sony Records, 351 F.3d 46, 51 (2d Cir.2003). The first element, plaintiffs’ ownership of a valid copyright, is undisputed for purposes of this motion.

To satisfy the second element, unauthorized copying, “a plaintiff must show both that his work was ‘actually copied’ and that the portion copied amounts to an ‘improper or unlawful appropriation.’ ” Jorgensen v. Epic/Sony Records, 351 F.3d 46, 51 (2d Cir.2003) (internal citation omitted). “Actual copying may be established either by direct evidence or circumstantial proof that the alleged infringer had access to the protected work and that the allegedly infringing work bears a ‘probative similarity’ to the copyrighted work.” Jean v. Bug Music, Inc., No. 00CIV4022(DC), 2002 WL 287786, *4 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 27, 2002), citing Ringgold v. Black Entm’t Television, Inc., 126 F.3d 70, 75 (2d Cir.1997).

“Once copying has been established, a plaintiff must next demonstrate that the copying was unlawful by showing that there is a substantial similarity between the protectible elements in the two works.” Hogan v. DC Comics, 48 F.Supp.2d 298, 307 (S.D.N.Y.1999) (internal citations omitted). “The copied elements of the work must be original and nontrivial to constitute improper appropriation.” Jean, 2002 WL 287786 at *5, citing Feist Publ’ns, Inc. v. Rural Tel. Serv. Co., 499 U.S. 340, 345, 111 S.Ct. 1282, 113 L.Ed.2d 358 (1991).

The mere fact that a work is copyrighted does not mean that every element of the work may be protected. Originality remains the sine qua non of copyright; accordingly, copyright protection may extend only to those components of a work that are original to the author.

Feist, 499 U.S. at 348, 111 S.Ct. 1282. “Careful scrutiny is necessary when the protected work contains unprotectible elements.” Jean, 2002 WL 287786 at *4, citing Knitwaves, Inc. v. Lollytogs Ltd., 71 F.3d 996, 1002 (2d Cir.1995). “[A] court must attempt to extract the unprotectible elements from [its] consideration and ask whether the protectible elements, standing alone, are substantially similar.” Id., quoting Knitwaves, 71 F.3d at 1002 (emphasis in original). The copyright owner must demonstrate “that substantial similarities as to the protected elements of the work would cause an average lay observer to recognize the alleged copy as having been appropriated from the copyrighted work.” Jean, 2002 WL 287786 at *4. A court must “examine the total concept and feel of the work.” Hogan v. DC Comics, 48 F.Supp.2d 298, 309 (S.D.N.Y.1999).

Because the test is intended to gauge the reaction of an “average lay observer,” the testimony of expert witnesses plays, at most, a minor role in determining substantial similarity. “Expert testimony of musicians may also be received, but it will in no way be controlling on the issue of illicit copying, and should be utilized only to assist in determining the reactions of lay auditors.” Amstein v. Porter, 154 F.2d 464, 473 (2d Cir.1946). See also Walker v. Time Life Films, Inc., 784 F.2d 44, 51 (2d Cir.1986); Shine v. Childs, 382 F.Supp.2d 602, 614 (S.D.N.Y.2005)(“the Second Circuit has long held that substantial similarity should be determined not with the help of or solely by experts in the relevant field, but from the perspective of the ordinary observer”).

Certain compositional elements common to many songs “are unoriginal and constitute ‘scenes a faire,’ or ordinary, unprotectible expression.” IntersongUSA v. CBS, Inc., 757 F.Supp. 274, 282 (S.D.N.Y.1991). Thus, for example, courts have held that certain commonly-used elements such as a descending scale step motive, the use of the eight-measure phrase, or the use of 4/4 rhythm are not, in themselves, protectible. See id.; Velez v. Sony Discos, No. 05Civ. 0615(PKC), 2007 WL 120686 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 16, 2007). However, unoriginal elements, when combined in an original manner, can constitute an original, copyrightable work. BMS Entertainment/Heat Music LLC v. Bridges, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13491 (S.D.N.Y. July 6, 2005).

Similarly, “[ejommon phrases are generally not susceptible to copyright protection.” Stra tchborneo v. Arc Music Corp., 357 F.Supp. 1393, 1405 (S.D.N.Y.1973)(the phrase “MOJO” is “so commonplace as to be substantially within the public domain”). “As a well-worn cliche or motto, the ‘ordinary’ phrase may be freely quoted or otherwise used without fear of infringement.” Acuff-Rose Music v. Jostens Inc., 988 F.Supp. 289, 295 (S.D.N.Y.1997), aff'd 155 F.3d 140 (2d Cir.1998)(the common phrase ‘You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything,” appearing in a song, was not a protectible element). See also Perma Greetings, Inc. v. Russ Berrie & Co., 598 F.Supp. 445, 449 (E.D.Mo.1984) (“hang in there” not protectible); O’Brien v. Chappel & Co., 159 F.Supp. 58, 59 (S.D.N.Y.1958) (common phrase “night and noon” not subject to copyright protection).

“Substantial similarity is generally a question of fact for a jury.” Hogan v. DC Comics, 48 F.Supp.2d 298, 310 (S.D.N.Y. 1999), citing Hoehling v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 618 F.2d 972, 977 (2d Cir.1980). However, summary judgment is appropriate on this issue, where the similarity concerns only noncopyrightable elements of plaintiffs work or where “no reasonable trier of fact could find the works substantially similar.” Williams v. Crichton, 84 F.3d 581, 587 (2d Cir.1996), quoting Walker v. Time Life Films, Inc., 784 F.2d 44, 48 (2d Cir.1986).

IV. Discussion

The defendants move for summary judgment on the grounds that no reasonable trier of fact could find a substantial similarity between the plaintiffs’ song and the allegedly infringing song.

The plaintiffs argue that there are several specific similarities. In addition to the use of the word “frontin’ ” in the title and lyrics, the plaintiffs also argue that the songs have similar storylines. Plaintiffs also contend that both songs share the same tempo and 4/4 rhythm and use hip-hop idioms. These are all of the similarities the plaintiffs point to in their opposition.

Plaintiffs have submitted a purported expert report in support of their position. The defendants object that the plaintiffs’ expert report is inadmissible because it includes no information as to the purported expert’s qualifications. The court agrees that the report does not comply with Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(2)(B) and makes no showing that the expert is “an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education.” F.R.E. 702. See also Velez v. Sony Discos, No. 05Civ. 0615(PKC), 2007 WL 120686, *4 (S.D.N.Y.2007) (“the threshold question that a Court must answer in assessing the admissibility of expert testimony is whether the proffered expert is ‘qualified ... by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education.’ ”) The report therefore is inadmissible.

The inadmissibility of this report is, in truth, no great loss to the plaintiffs. Although the expert refers to a few terms of art from musicology, such as rhythm and tempo, he provides neither explanation as to the technical meaning of these concepts nor any discussion of their significance in this case. 5 The plaintiffs’ arguments essentially repeat all the points raised by the purported expert, and the court addresses those arguments below. 6

The court now turns to the specific similarities identified by the plaintiffs, before examining the more general “concept and feel” of the works. Hogan v. DC Comics, 48 F.Supp.2d 298, 309 (S.D.N.Y.1999).

A. The word “frontin’ ”

As the defendants concede, an obvious similarity between the two songs lies in the use of the word “frontin’.” Plaintiffs’ song is called I’m Frontin’ and Williams’ song is entitled Frontin’. The near-identity of titles is the primary similarity relied on by the plaintiffs in their opposition brief. The word is also repeated several times in each song. 7

Defendants, however, present evidence that this term was part of hip-hop vocabulary as early as 1992, the year before plaintiffs allegedly wrote their song. Specifically, defendants submit pages from a specialty dictionary titled “Fresh Fly Flavor: Words & Phrases of the Hip-Hop Generation,” copyrighted in 1992 by “Fab 5 Freddy a.k.a. Fred Brathwaite.” It defines “frontin’ ” as “1. Trying to impress someone. 2. Telling lies.”

The plaintiffs do not challenge the authoritativeness of this text or present any other evidence that their use of the term “frontin’ ” is original. They argue that the word frontin’ is unfamiliar “to the public at large,” but do not present any evidence in support of that contention. Even if plaintiffs are correct that the word was not generally known, it was common enough to appear in a dictionary in 1992. So it could not have been an original expression by the plaintiffs when they allegedly wrote their song in 1993. See Stratchborneo v. Arc Music Corp., 357 F.Supp. 1393, 1396 (S.D.N.Y.1973). There is no evidence that the plaintiffs created this expression or used it in an original way.

Based on the record before it, the court finds that the word “frontin’ ” is a nonprotectible element of the plaintiffs’ song. Therefore, Williams’ use of the use of the word “frontin’,” without more, is not a basis for a finding of substantial similarity.

B. Storylines

The plaintiffs argue that the allegedly infringing song “follows an extremely similar storyline through its lyrics to that of the plaintiffs’ lyrical storyline.” The defendants argue that the songs’ storylines are different.

Plaintiffs’ song is a narrative recounting a man’s travels around town and an ensuing series of sexual conquests — first, a woman named Dina, then Dina’s sister, then a third unnamed woman. He seduces these women with “mac daddy lines,” such as “you’re a queen, sweet, plump and clean.” When Dina catches the narrator with her younger sister, he is forced to admit that he has been “frontin’ and I don’t care if you know.” When he succeeds in sweet-talking the third woman, he says he was “frontin’ like a real mac should.” “Frontin’,” in the context of this song, is an act to hide dishonorable intentions.

The allegedly infringing song, by contrast, is not a narrative of events but a sort of reflection about the relationship between the narrator and one woman. The woman, says the narrator, “ain’t looking at no other dudes cause you love me,” and she finds herself “trying to do my dance/ Maybe cause you love me.” She is, he says, “frontin’ ” about her feelings. As for the narrator’s feelings, “Everytime your name was brought up/ I would act all nonchalant in front of an audience” but “truth be told you do me for a loop.” He admits that he acts “like you ain’t appealing when you are” and “like you ain’t my only girl when you are.” By the end of the song, he concludes that he is “too old to be frontin’ ” and is “ready to stop when you are.” In this song, “frontin’,” though accompanied by its share of sexual bravado, is not so much a deception but a false front to shield emotion.

The court finds no similarity between the storylines of the two songs. In addition, apart from the word “frontin’,” plaintiffs have not identified, and the court does not find, any other substantial similarity in the lyrics. Both songs include idiomatic references to sexual acts, but ideas of lust or sexuality are not copyrightable. Only the actual expression of those ideas might be protected, and there is no overlap in the specific expression used by the two songs.

C. Meter and Tempo

Finally, the plaintiffs argue that the songs both have the same “tempo,” a “4/4 rhythm,” and use “hip-hop idioms.” They do not explain exactly what they mean by any of these phrases.

As to tempo, in the absence of any clear argument from the plaintiffs, the court relies on a dictionary definition: Tempo: the rate of rhythmic recurrence or movement;

specif.: the rate of speed of a musical piece or passage indicated by one of a series of directions associated conventionally with speed (as largo, presto, allegro) and often by an exact metronome marking.

Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (Unabridged) 2353 (1993). The record does not include sheet music or any other evidence that might help the court evaluate the plaintiffs’ argument that the songs in fact have the same tempo. However, even if the plaintiffs are correct that the two songs have the same tempo, the speed of the song is not, by itself, a protectible element. The songs share a 4/4 meter, but this element is not, without more, evidence of substantial similarity because it is so commonplace as to be likely to arise in independently created works. Velez v. Sony Discos, No. 05Civ. 0615(PKC), 2007 WL 120686, *10 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 16, 2007).

Finally, the plaintiffs point to a shared “hip hop idiom.” Apart from the word “frontin’,” plaintiffs do not identify any particular term or expression that they believe was copied from their song, and upon careful review of the lyrics the court does not find that Williams’ song shares any idioms or expressions with the plaintiffs’ song, except for the nonprotectible word “frontin’.”

D. Total Concept and Feel

The court has reviewed all of the alleged similarities highlighted by the plaintiffs and found that they do not evidence substantial similarity. Nonetheless, it remains for the court to take a more general view and “examine the total concept and feel of the work.” Hogan v. DC Comics, 48 F.Supp.2d 298, 309 (S.D.N.Y.1999). In conducting such a review, the court bears in mind that nonprotectible elements, if combined in an original way, can become protectible original expressions.

The court, having carefully listened to the songs and reviewed the record, finds that the total concept and feel of the two songs is very different. The musical and vocal styles, though both falling within the hip-hop genre, are markedly different, as are the lyrics and storylines. The only similarity is the use of the public domain word “frontin’.”

The court concludes that no reasonable trier of fact could find the works substantially similar. Because Williams’ song does not infringe the plaintiffs’ copyright, the defendants are entitled to summary judgment on the claims of contributory and vicarious infringement. In addition, the plaintiffs’ CUTPA claim, which is based entirely on the alleged infringement of Williams’ song, fails as a matter of law in light of the noninfringement.

V. Conclusion

For all the foregoing reasons, the court recommends that the defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, doc. # 171, be granted.

Any party may seek the district court’s review of this recommendation. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(written objections to proposed findings and recommendations must be filed within fourteen days after service of same); Fed.R.Civ.P. 6 & 72; Rule 72.2 of the Local Rules for United States Magistrate Judges, United States District Court for the District of Connecticut; Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 155, 106 S.Ct. 466, 88 L.Ed.2d 435 (1985); Frank v. Johnson, 968 F.2d 298, 300 (2d Cir.1992). Failure to timely object to a magistrate judge’s report will preclude appellate review. Small v. Sec’y of Health and Human Servs., 892 F.2d 15, 16 (2d Cir.1989).

SO ORDERED at Hartford, Connecticut this 25th day of February, 2010.

1 . “Disputes” one through four relate to plaintiffs' insistence that they are entitled to a default judgment, notwithstanding previous rulings to the contrary. See Docs. ## 153 and 204.

2 . In their complaint, plaintiffs alleged that their song was produced in 1993. See Am. Comp, at ¶ 16. They repeated this allegation in their response to the motion for summary judgment. See Pis.’ Mem. In Opp. at 1. Why they now claim that the song was produced in 1991 is unclear, but their change in position may be due to the Magistrate Judge's reliance on a 1992 dictionary, which includes the word “frontin’ ’’. In any event, having previously claimed throughout this long-pending litigation that their song was produced in 1993, plaintiffs’ belated assertion that the song actually was produced in 1991 does not provide a proper basis for objecting to the recommended ruling.

1 . Although the plaintiffs have been pro se for much of the pendency of this action, they are now represented by counsel. Both the operative Amended Complaint, doc. # 55, and the plaintiffs’ summary judgment briefing were filed by counsel.

2 . Specifically, Count Eleven of the Amended Complaint, doc. # 55, alleges contributory copyright infringement against defendant Arista Records due to its distribution of the infringing song. Count Twelve alleges that defendant Arista Records violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by distributing the song. Count Thirteen alleges that defendant Sony BMG Music Entertainment Inc. is vicariously liable for copyright infringement in that it failed to perform "the necessary due diligence to uncover” defendant Williams’ alleged copyright infringement. These are the only remaining counts.

3 . The plaintiffs’ opposition brief refers to Williams’ song as Just Frontin’. However, the parties’ statements of undisputed facts state the title as Frontin'. (See Defs.’ Local Rule 56(a)(1) Statement, doc. # 171-5 and Pis.' Local Rule 56(a)(2) Statement, doc. # 183-2.)

4 . The complaint alleges that, in 1995, a recording of their song was sent to Bad Boys Entertainment, Inc., a company owned by Sean Combs. Plaintiffs allege that Combs shared the song with Williams.

5 . The entire opinion on tempo is that both songs "share the same tempo.” The entire opinion on rhythm is that the songs "both use a 4/4 rhythm.” (Pls.’ Mem., ex. 2, doc. # 183-3.) Most of the remainder of the report discusses similarities in the lyrics, matters that do not require any technical expertise or insight.

6 . As discussed supra, expert testimony is, in any event, of limited use for determining substantial similarity.

7 . In plaintiff's song, "frontin’ " appears in the following lyrics:

10th line: "Dina caught me in the act so I had to admit it, that I’m frontin’ and I don’t care if you know”

12th line: "I’m frontin’ and I don’t care if you know”

21st line: "She started smiling put her hands on her hips, rolling her eyes, licking her lips by that time she was sitting on the hood and I was frontin’ like a real mac should/ I’m frontin’ ”

(Defs.’ Statement of Material Facts, doc. # 171, ex. B.) In the allegedly infringing song, it appears in two lines of the chorus:

I know that I’m carrying on, nevermind if I'm showing off

I was just frontin' (you know I want ya babe)

I'm ready to bet it all, unless you don't care at all

But you know I want ya (you should stop frontin' babe)

It is used again near the end of the song:

I’m too old to be frontin’ when I'm feeling Denzel

And you acting like you ain’t appealing when you are

Stunting like you ain’t my only girl when you are (I was just frontin’)

I’m ready to stop when you are

(Defs.' Statement of Material Facts, doc. # 171, ex. D.)