Travis Scott, SZA, and Future have been named as defendants in a copyright infringement legal complaint filed in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The complaint, filed by Roc Nation-signed singer and songwriter Victory Boyd, claims their collaboration “Telekinesis” utilized elements of her 2019 song “Like the Way It Sounds” without her permission.
“Scott, SZA, Future and all defendants intentionally and willfully copied plaintiffs’ original work, specifically plaintiff’s lyrics, when they commercially released the infringing work,” the suit reads.
Boyd suggests that a game of musical telephone led to the song being recorded and released without her sign-off. The suit states that Boyd shared “Like the Way It Sounds” with Kanye West and recorded a version of the song titled “Ultrasounds” with Scott. West’s rendition surfaced on SoundCloud at least two years ago but was never formally released. Scott then cut the song again with Future and SZA, ultimately releasing it as “Telekinesis” on his 2023 album Utopia.
Representatives for Scott did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.
The suit states that Boyd’s original work was left in a studio in Wyoming, from which Scott began creating the alleged infringed work. “Upon information and belief, Scott, SZA, and Future intentionally and willfully copied Plaintiff’s Original Work, specifically Plaintiff’s Lyrics and Melody, when they created the Infringing Work in May of 2023,” it reads.
In July 2023, Boyd was listed as a credited songwriter in the metadata attached to the streaming release, but the singer insists she was “unaware” the song was copied for commercial release. The suit states that Boyd planned on releasing her completed version of the song on her own through Roc Nation. It also claims that the luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet — also named under the list of defendants — collaborated with Scott, SZA, and Future on an advertising campaign that featured the song despite Boyd declining licensing permissions.
The suit requests that all defendants — which includes Scott’s Cactus Jack Records, Sony Music Entertainment, producer/songwriter Jahaan Sweet, and more — “recall and destroy” all copies of works derived from Boyd’s original work. It also seeks payment in “an amount to be determined at trial in actual damages and profits, plus interest,” as well as “a full and complete accounting of all profits obtained from their marketing, distribution, and national television broadcasting” of “Telekinesis.”
