Taylor Swift sued for more than a MILLION dollars by author accusing her of ‘stealing concept of 2019 Lover booklet’ … as Grammy winner battles separate plagiarism lawsuit over lyrics to Shake it Off
- Taylor Swift has been sued by an author accusing Swift of copying her book of ‘poems, anecdotes and photos’ for a companion booklet to her 2019 Lover album
- Both Teresa La Dart’s 2010 book and Taylor’s booklet are titled Lover and according to the lawsuit feature similar colors and styles
- In documents, obtained by TMZ, La Dart suggests that Taylor and her team read her Lover book and decided to replicate the concept and slap Swift’s name on it
- La Dart is requesting more than a million dollars in damages
- The Grammy winner has yet to respond to the lawsuit but earlier this month filed a response to an unrelated plagiarism claim over Shake it Off
Taylor Swift is being sued for more than a million dollars over a booklet she released as a companion to her 2019 album, Lover, by a woman who claims the star copied her own version.
Teresa La Dart, an author, filed a lawsuit against the 32-year-old Grammy winner for copyright infringement, according to documents obtained by TMZ on Wednesday.
The outlet reported that La Dart, who published a book in 2010 of ‘poems, anecdotes and photos’ also titled Lover, feels Swift copied ‘the vibe and design’ for her own work nine years later.
Legal woes: Taylor Swift is being sued for more than a million dollars over a booklet she released as a companion to her 2019 album, Lover, by a woman who claims the star copied her own version (Seen in 2021)
In the documents, La Dart suggests that Taylor and her team read her Lover book and decided to replicate the concept and slap Swift’s name on it.
The author says both works not only share the same title but are each a ‘recollection of past years memorialized in a combination of written and pictorial components.’
In addition, La Dart thinks the color scheme and style of the images used are too similar to be coincidental.
La Dart wants more than a million dollars in damages. Swift’s legal team has not yet responded to the claim.
They’ve been busy, however, dealing with a separate copyright claim over Taylor’s smash hit song Shake It Off.
Similar or no? La Dart, who published a book in 2010 of ‘poems, anecdotes and photos’ also titled Lover, feels Swift copied ‘the vibe and design’ for her own work nine years later
Earlier this month, Swift’s lawyer filed a formal response to a plagiarism lawsuit from two songwriters – Sean Hall and Nathan Butler – who claim Shake It Off used lines from their 2001 tune Playas Gon’ Play, which was performed by the girl group 3LW.
The suit was initially filed in 2017, then thrown out because a judge deemed the lyrics in question too generic, however, the case was reopened on appeal.
In a sworn declaration seen by Billboard, Taylor has said she never stole any lyrics from the 2001 song and added that she had never even heard of the group who released it.
She said: ‘Until learning about Plaintiffs’ claim in 2017, I had never heard the song Playas Gon’ Play and had never heard of that song or the group 3LW.
Taylor added: ‘None of the CDs I listened to as a child, or after that, were by 3LW.
A lot of dough: La Dart wants more than a million dollars in damages; Swift’s legal team has not yet responded to the claim (seen in 2021)
‘I have never heard the song ‘Playas Gon’ Play’ on the radio, on television, or in any film. The first time I ever heard the song was after this claim was made.’
The lines ‘players gonna play’ and ‘haters gonna hate’ are featured in similar versions on each song.
The girl group 3LW were active in the late 90s and early 00s and were made up of Naturi Noughton and The Cheetah Girls stars Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams.
Playas Gon’ Play received significant airplay, hitting 86 on the Hot 100 chart.
But the track’s success was nothing compared to Taylor’s monster hit Shake It Off, which topped the Hot 100 and several other music charts after its 2014 release.
In her declaration, Taylor also discussed her inspiration for the lyrics of Shake It Off, which came from ‘public scrutiny’ of her life.
She said: ‘I recall hearing phrases about players play and haters hate stated together by other children while attending school in Wyomissing Hills, and in high school in Hendersonville.
‘These phrases were akin to other commonly used sayings like ‘don’t hate the playa, hate the game,’ ‘take a chill pill,’ and ‘say it, don’t spray it.’ ‘
Representatives for the Folklore singer haven’t yet issued a statement, but an attorney for Hall and Butler said the court ‘did the right thing.’
More drama: Earlier this month, Swift’s lawyer filed a formal response to a plagiarism lawsuit from two songwriters – Sean Hall and Nathan Butler – who claim Shake It Off used lines from their 2001 tune Playas Gon’ Play, which was performed by the girl group 3LW
‘Our clients are finally moving closer to the justice they so richly deserve,’ said their attorney Marina Bogorad. ‘The opinion … is especially gratifying to them because it reinforces the idea that their creativity and unique expression cannot be misappropriated without any retribution.’
Although Taylor will now have to go to trial for the lawsuit, the judge hasn’t yet set a court date.
Last week a member of 3LW, Kiely Williams, addressed the suit and distanced herself and former bandmates from the proceedings.
‘We didn’t write the song. We’re not suing Taylor Swift. We aren’t even a thing,’ the 36-year-old said in an Instagram Live. ‘I’m speaking for myself, but what’s right is right.
‘[3LW] didn’t write the song either. They don’t deserve any kind of flack for it and the whole bringing our actual names into it. I really felt compelled just because it’s been escalating. I’ve been watching it and I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I’m good.’ But like what? Okay. You’ve never heard of [the song]. Okay, that’s your defense. That’s fine. But please educate people on the fact that it has nothing to do with us.
‘When you say things like that, it’s inflammatory. Because now, once you bring the group’s name into it, it becomes like these money-grabbing b***hes are just trying to take some of Taylor’s coins. Nope. I don’t want her coins.’
‘I have never heard the song ‘Playas Gon’ Play’ on the radio, on television, or in any film. The first time I ever heard the song was after this claim was made,’ Swift said in her response (3LW pictured in 2001 in NYC)
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