An unknown singer/songwriter named Katie Farrah Sopher claims the lyrics on some songs by Disclosure, including 'Latch' featuring Smith, are from a songbook she claims was stolen by her ex.
- Jan 19, 2015
AceShowbiz - Sam Smith and Disclosure are among some names in music being sued as they're accused of using stolen lyrics on their hit songs. According to a new report by Daily Mail, an unknown singer/songwriter named Katie Farrah Sopher says the lyrics in question are from her songbook which her ex-boyfriend Sean Sawyers stole and sold to people in the industry.
Sopher claims more than £200,000 (around $320,000) in damages over four songs, three of which were recorded by Disclosure. Those three tracks include the duo's breakthrough single "Latch" which features Smith's vocals and two collaborations with Eliza Doolittle, "White Noise" and "You and Me".
The singer is also suing AlunaGeorge for their contributions to "White Noise" as well as for their own "Attracting Flies".
In her testimony, Sopher explains that the lyrics on her alleged stolen songbook are the result of a five-year "toxic" relationship with Sawyers. She said when they were dating, he "attempted to control [her], was jealous and possessive and... believed she was cheating on him, which made him violent and reluctant to allow [her] to speak to other men." The songbook was later stolen shortly after their split in 2009.
Sawyers has denied all the accusations. "I am denying all the allegations... There is zero truth to the claims made against me. I never saw the book the claimant mentions... [so] I could not have committed the alleged damages, theft, copyright infringement," he states in a defense filed with the High Court.
None of the musicians involved in the case has commented on the lawsuit.
