A California federal judge on Monday rejected Osama Ahmed Fahmy's bid for early judgment of his copyright claims against the rapper.
Now in its eighth year, the long-running litigation over whether Jay Z rightfully sampled an Egyptian tune in his hit single "Big Pimpin'" is getting closer to resolution. With the trial scheduled for Oct. 13, the judge on Monday indicated she’d likely deny Osama Ahmed Fahmy's motion for summary judgment against the rapper.
Fahmy’s lawsuit centers on the composition "Khosara, Khosara" from the 1960 Egyptian film Fata ahlami, which Jay Z and Timbaland (who is a co-defendant) turned into the unmistakable hook of the rapper’s 2000 single. Fahmy claims he's an heir of “Khosara Khosara” composer Baligh Hamdy and sued the rapper for copyright infringement, also naming Paramount Pictures, Warner Music, UMG and MTV among the defendants.
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In her tentative ruling, federal judge Christina Snyder agreed the terms of the licensing agreements present triable issues. In the courtroom, she pointed out the lawsuit's extraordinary lifespan. "I think this case really has to head toward some form of resolution sooner rather than later," she said. The attorneys noted that a settlement conference went nowhere. "I think the only answer is to march toward trial," said Wesley.
