Takeoff, Quavo, and Offset are accused of ripping off Leander C. Pickett's 2007 song but U.S. District Court Judge disagrees with the plaintiff and sides with the trio.
- November 14, 2019
AceShowbiz - A copyright lawsuit over Migos' song "Walk It Talk It" has been dismissed.
Leander C. Pickett, also known as M.O.S. and DJ Folk, filed the lawsuit last October, claiming he recorded a song titled "Walk It Like I Talk It" in 2007 and released it on a mixtape the following year. After hearing rappers Takeoff, Quavo and Offset's tune following its March release, Pickett alleged the track contained a "substantial portion" of his decade-old song.
On Tuesday, November 12, the case was heard by U.S. District Court Judge Analisa Torres, who dismissed it after deciding the "walk it like I talk it" phrase - the only similarity between the two tunes - is a "short and commonplace phrase" not protected by copyright law. She also noted that the phrase didn't originate from Pickett's song as it was previously used in tunes such as Paul Wall's "March 'n' Step" and Young Jeezy's "3 A.M." before 2008.
"The only meaningful similarity between Plaintiff's Work and Defendant's Work is that the lyrics 'walk it like I talk it' form each song's chorus, or hook," Torres said in her decision. "Having carefully listened to the two songs, the Court concludes that the similarity between the two works concerns only 'unprotectible elements' of Plaintiff's Work."
Pickett's lawyer Dana Whitfield told Billboard that they are now "exploring options for an appeal."
