Justin Bieber and Usher Facing Copyright Lawsuit Over 'Somebody to Love'

Reuters writes that Justin Bieber and Usher were ordered by a U.S. appeals court on June 18 to face a $10 million copyright lawsuit over their song "Somebody to Love".

Reinstating a May 2013 lawsuit by R&B singer De Rico (Devin Copeland) and his writing partner Mareio Overton, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that a lower court should not have dismissed the case in 2014.

De Rico and Overton claim three iterations of "Somebody to Love" recorded by Bieber and Usher, "shared the beat pattern, time signature, and similar chords and lyrics with their song with the same name."

"After listening to the Copeland song and the Bieber and Usher songs as wholes, we conclude that their choruses are similar enough and also significant enough that a reasonable jury could find the songs intrinsically similar," Circuit Judge Pamela Harris stated.

She added that Bieber and Usher did not transform the song into their own work by adding a "dance pop, perhaps with hints of electronica" vibe.

The lawsuit is heading back to the lower court.

Photo Credit: Jim Smeal/BEImages