Rapper Lil' Flip getting sued over Pac-Man!

[XJR15]

Apparently, in Lil' Flip's song "Game Over" he used musical cues from both Pacman and Ms. Pacman games. I heard Namco is suing both him and Sony for copyright infringment...

Looks like definitly game over for Lil' Flip... and damn I liked that song =P

[Push Upstairs]

Damn, there is another rapper with the name Lil' for a name?

I can see the rap section at Best Buy now:

Rap A-Z, Lil' A-Z, Rap Various.

[SMB]

Lil jon, Lil flip, Lil scrapyy.

I like that new song of his "Sunshine"

[farfel]

Apparently, in Lil' Flip's song "Game Over" he used musical cues from both Pacman and Ms. Pacman games.

Great next Namco willl be suing Pac-Man Fever. I thought parodies were protected by the free speech caluse?

[YoshiM]

Apparently, in Lil' Flip's song "Game Over" he used musical cues from both Pacman and Ms. Pacman games.

Great next Namco willl be suing Pac-Man Fever. I thought parodies were protected by the free speech caluse?

I haven't heard the song but I have a feeling it's not a parody but actually uses the samples from the games (which are copyrighted). I want to say Buckner and Garcia got permission as I seem to remember a long list of copyrights on the CD sleeve.

[NintendoMan]

Yeah, I like that song too. I wonder how much they are sueing for??

[kevincure]

Sampling law is in a sort of disarray right now, but I think Namco has a tough case in the US. If they win, though, a lot of music companies are in trouble. Even N' Sync had a song (produced by BT, I believe) called "The Game is Over" with old arcade clips spliced in.

Still, I can't see Namco winning.

[-hellvin-]

Lol, pretty funny. /me cues pacman dying sound for lil flip.

I agree with the damn "Lil" click growing in the rap section, every fucking day I work at best buy I swear there is a new lil 'X".

[Cmosfm]

Well, according to Ohhla.com, there's currently 27 artists with "lil" before there name...

Lil' 1/2 Dead
Lil' Blacky
Lil' Boosie
Lil' Bow Wow
Lil' Cease
Lil' Cuete
Lil' E
Lil' Flex
Lil' Flip
Lil' Italy
Lil' J
Lil' Kim
Lil' Keke
Lil' Jon
Lil Mario
Lil Menace
Lil' O
Lil' Ric
Lil' Romeo
Lil' Rob
Lil' Scrappy
Lil' Slim
Lil' Soldiers
Lil' Troy
Lil' Wayne
Lil Wyte
Lil' Zane

Overkill? yes.

Anyways, Beanie Sigel did a song and sampled Pac-Man as well, and also name called a lot of game characters. Song was called "Mac Man" I think.

Why isn't he getting sued as well?

[captain nintendo]

Well, according to Ohhla.com, there's currently 27 artists with "lil" before there name...

Lil' 1/2 Dead
Lil' Blacky
Lil' Boosie
Lil' Bow Wow
Lil' Cease
Lil' Cuete
Lil' E
Lil' Flex
Lil' Flip
Lil' Italy
Lil' J
Lil' Kim
Lil' Keke
Lil' Jon
Lil Mario
Lil Menace
Lil' O
Lil' Ric
Lil' Romeo
Lil' Rob
Lil' Scrappy
Lil' Slim
Lil' Soldiers
Lil' Troy
Lil' Wayne
Lil Wyte
Lil' Zane

Overkill? yes.

Anyways, Beanie Sigel did a song and sampled Pac-Man as well, and also name called a lot of game characters. Song was called "Mac Man" I think.

Why isn't he getting sued as well?


Because his name doesnt start with Lil LOL

[MegaDrive20XX]

they should form a group and they'll be called "The Lil' Shits"

[tholly]

its not the best song in the world....but its only a sound, so i dont think namco should win this one.....

everyone in this country is way way way too lawsuit happy....they need to chill out

[Captain Wrong]

Wondered when, not if, this was gonna happen. Actually I like the song, I think the samples are creatively used.

[Flack]

I think the MP3 generation doesn't really understand copyrights, trademarks, and samples. Just because "it's just a sound" doesn't mean someone doesn't own the rights to it, and you can't use it in another work without their permission.

Beanie Sigel isn't getting sued (yet) because his song wasn't a top 40 song, and it's very likely Namco hasn't heard of it.

[Half Japanese]

Note to self: find a way to copyright breathing sounds. World domination imminent.

[tholly]

Note to self: find a way to copyright breathing sounds. World domination imminent.

i already did that....sorry....too late....if you want to continue breathing, send a check for $1,000,000 to me. thanks

[farfel]

Even N' Sync had a song (produced by BT, I believe) called "The Game is Over" with old arcade clips spliced in. Still, I can't see Namco winning.

That sucks. If using small samples was legal in the 80s & 90s and suddenly the court changes its mine it shouldb't be retroactive. It's not N'Sync's fault the Supreme Court is indecisive.

[Half Japanese]

It's not N'Sync's fault the Supreme Court is indecisive.

According to the June 1999 issue of Scientific Proof magazine, everything is NSync's fault. Cancer, dead puppies, the whole shebang.

[Famidrive-16]

Aesop rock's got a lot of Pac-man samples in 'the greatest pac-man victory ever'

although i think he might have gotten permission but i dunno

[Push Upstairs]

According to the June 1999 issue of Scientific Proof magazine, everything is NSync's fault. Cancer, dead puppies, the whole shebang.

This explains alot.

So its NSync's fault there are 27 rappers with the name "Lil"


Damn them.

[The_EniGma]

the irony lol im listenin to thattune now

[Cmosfm]

It's not N'Sync's fault the Supreme Court is indecisive.

According to the June 1999 issue of Scientific Proof magazine, everything is NSync's fault. Cancer, dead puppies, the whole shebang.

Especially shebang.

The William Hung version.

[Cryomancer]

Protoculture By Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. Everyone give it a listen. Although I can't pick out any actual game sounds in it offhand, there's TONS of references/things named.

[josekortez]

Have you guys heard the remix? He samples the stage from when Mario confronts Bowser in Super Mario. Bros during his own verse.

[SegaAges]

don't forget lil bowwow (who doesn't want to be lil anymore, and is now bow wow)

lil wayne

lil kim

I can't think of anymore. lil flip wasn't all that great anyway. his best song was on a promo cd, the mtv stuff isn't all that good anyway

[Jasoco]

Rap is so shitty these days. So is Hip Hop. And Boy Bands and prissy make-your-own Pop Stars. Todays music sucks.. I think my signature says it all..

[Half Japanese]

..you mean the Ataris?

more good 'the radio is shitty' songs:

Screeching Weasel - Radio Blast
Boris the Sprinkler - My Radio Is Telling me to Kill (Those Guys on my Radio)
Weston - What Happened to the Radio

[Flack]

Protoculture By Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. Everyone give it a listen. Although I can't pick out any actual game sounds in it offhand, there's TONS of references/things named.

Referencing a game in a song is legal. Taking sounds from a videogame and using them in a song without permission is not.

[Jasoco]

Actually, I hate the Ataris. But the words are true. All the mainstream Radio music sucks. And is only popular for the same reason the PlayStation and Windows are.. Word of mouth, and everyone else does it.

BAH! I don't feel like arguing right now.

[Kid Ice]

Now this bothers me more than the Infogrames thing. Here is some nice, free publicity for a classic game. Many young fans of this music will hear the song, ask "Where's that sound from?", and line up to buy the next Namcomuseum at Gamestop.

So what does Namco do? Sue the artist, guaranteeing that the song will not get mass exposure. STUPID. It's not like people are saying "I'm going to buy the record because I love Pac Man, and there are Pac Man sounds on it". Give me a break.

I have not been in agreement with the various people who are predicting a crash in the near future, but I remember around the time of the original crash, people were awfully concerned about suing each other and awfully not concerned about making good games. What is Namco doing suing rappers? Shouldn't they be investing all their resources in a desparate attempt to breathe life into their Tekken and Ridge Racer franchises?

EDIT: I just reread the original post and noticed that Sony is also named. Increase the stupidity factor by about 50.

[Jasoco]

One less shitty Rapper is okay by me.

[Half Japanese]

Now this bothers me more than the Infogrames thing. Here is some nice, free publicity for a classic game. Many young fans of this music will hear the song, ask "Where's that sound from?", and line up to buy the next Namcomuseum at Gamestop.

So what does Namco do? Sue the artist, guaranteeing that the song will not get mass exposure. STUPID. It's not like people are saying "I'm going to buy the record because I love Pac Man, and there are Pac Man sounds on it". Give me a break.

I have not been in agreement with the various people who are predicting a crash in the near future, but I remember around the time of the original crash, people were awfully concerned about suing each other and awfully not concerned about making good games. What is Namco doing suing rappers? Shouldn't they be investing all their resources in a desparate attempt to breathe life into their Tekken and Ridge Racer franchises?

EDIT: I just reread the original post and noticed that Sony is also named. Increase the stupidity factor by about 50.


The song has already achieved massive popularity. Namco can't cripple it at this point, it's already on the way out as we speak. Also, I think it's a bit presumptuous to believe that many rap fans would line up at Gamestop for any game other than the latest Madden or Grand Theft Auto.



Actually, I hate the Ataris.

They are the epitome of mediocre, although that song is about the best thing they ever did, despite the fact it mentioned Oasis and Beck, both of whom are decidedly not shitty.

[Jasoco]

Actually, I hate the Ataris.
They are the epitome of mediocre, although that song is about the best thing they ever did, despite the fact it mentioned Oasis and Beck, both of whom are decidedly not shitty.I agree for the most part. Though I admit I haven't heard enough Beck or Oasis to form an opinion.

[Cmosfm]

Off Topic:

May just be the late night interneting, but Jasoco, that Natalie Portman avatar is really turning me on.

O_O

....and that means it's time for bed.

[Jasoco]

Off Topic:

May just be the late night interneting, but Jasoco, that Natalie Portman avatar is really turning me on.

O_O

....and that means it's time for bed. :D

Natalie's ready for bed too.. 8-)

[SoulBlazer]

What Flak said. People don't seem to understand copyrights these days. As part of my studies to get my MLS, I took a whole COURSE on copyright issues.

I'll save you the borring details, but basicaly -- you use game songs or sounds in something without permission, and SELL IT (the 'making profit' thing is a key point here), you WILL get sued once it gets popular enough.

I think Namco is suing Sony because they are the label company and one of their lawyers should have gone "Huh, I reconize that, it's from Pac-Man. Tell the artists to change that!" and did'nt. ;)

[MetroidFan1164]

Well, according to Ohhla.com, there's currently 27 artists with "lil" before there name...

Lil' 1/2 Dead
Lil' Blacky
Lil' Boosie
Lil' Bow Wow
Lil' Cease
Lil' Cuete
Lil' E
Lil' Flex
Lil' Flip
Lil' Italy
Lil' J
Lil' Kim
Lil' Keke
Lil' Jon
Lil Mario
Lil Menace
Lil' O
Lil' Ric
Lil' Romeo
Lil' Rob
Lil' Scrappy
Lil' Slim
Lil' Soldiers
Lil' Troy
Lil' Wayne
Lil Wyte
Lil' Zane

Overkill? yes.

Anyways, Beanie Sigel did a song and sampled Pac-Man as well, and also name called a lot of game characters. Song was called "Mac Man" I think.

Why isn't he getting sued as well?

heh, I met Lil Italy before. I was at the mall and he was signing posters at Musicland. Some rapper on the No Limit label that went nowhere - turned out his career was as little as his name! LOL LOL

Ill be here all night, try the veal!

[Kid Ice]

Now this bothers me more than the Infogrames thing. Here is some nice, free publicity for a classic game. Many young fans of this music will hear the song, ask "Where's that sound from?", and line up to buy the next Namcomuseum at Gamestop.

So what does Namco do? Sue the artist, guaranteeing that the song will not get mass exposure. STUPID. It's not like people are saying "I'm going to buy the record because I love Pac Man, and there are Pac Man sounds on it". Give me a break.

I have not been in agreement with the various people who are predicting a crash in the near future, but I remember around the time of the original crash, people were awfully concerned about suing each other and awfully not concerned about making good games. What is Namco doing suing rappers? Shouldn't they be investing all their resources in a desparate attempt to breathe life into their Tekken and Ridge Racer franchises?

EDIT: I just reread the original post and noticed that Sony is also named. Increase the stupidity factor by about 50.


The song has already achieved massive popularity. Namco can't cripple it at this point, it's already on the way out as we speak. Also, I think it's a bit presumptuous to believe that many rap fans would line up at Gamestop for any game other than the latest Madden or Grand Theft Auto.



Well, assuming the song has achieved "massive popularity" as you put it, then it has gone mainstream, thereby reaching an audience larger than the rap fan base, and within that audience would be people who would buy Namcomuseum. Not necessarily they would buy it solely on the basis of the song, but the song might influence them.

Rap fans strictly buy Madden and GTA, huh? Give me a rest.

[slip81]

All these copyright lawsuits are a Lil' too much. Official Copyrights don't last forever, I wonder if Namco ever bothered to renew the ones for Pac-Man sounds, as that would be a seperate copyright just for the music.

Lapse in copyrights is a great thing, that's how Kevin Smith got the rights to Namor the Sub Mariner

[Habeeb Hamusta]

Lil jon, Lil flip, Lil scrapyy.

I like that new song of his "Sunshine"

Haha. Lil Romeo, Lil Bow Wow(isn't he just Bow Wow now)....man too many ows.

Anyways, the list goes on and on like you said.