Beyoncé sued over ‘Lemonade’ trailer
Beyoncé Knowles has been sued by a filmmaker who has claimed that the singer’s trailer for her new album infringes copyright for a short film he created.
In a complaint filed at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Wednesday, June 8, Matthew Fulks said the trailer for Beyoncé’s album “Lemonade” is substantially similar to his short film “ Palinoia”.
“Palinoia” was released in July 2014 while the trailer for “Lemonade” was released on April 17 this year. Her album of the same name was released on April 23.
Fulks said the trailer and his own work both use “visual and auditory elements, visual and auditory sequences, themes, format, mood, setting, plot, and pace, all of which create a protectable total concept and feel”.
Both works are described as carefully selected visuals, which are seemingly unrelated in a rapid montage, with a poem recited in a voice over against a distinctive audio track.
Fulks is asking for unspecified damages, profits from the sales of “Lemonade” and a trial by jury.
Already registered?
Login to your account
If you don't have a login or your access has expired, you will need to purchase a subscription to gain access to this article, including all our online content.
For more information on individual annual subscriptions for full paid access and corporate subscription options please contact us.
To request a FREE 2-week trial subscription, please signup.
NOTE - this can take up to 48hrs to be approved.
For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription that we can add you to for FREE, please email Adrian Tapping at atapping@newtonmedia.co.uk