Alice Merton Sues Ye for Copyright Infringement Over Unauthorized Sample

Alice Merton has filed a lawsuit against Ye (formerly Kanye West), claiming he used an unauthorized sample from her song "Blindside" in his track "Gun to My Head," which features Ty Dolla $ign and Kid Cudi. Merton, a German artist and descendant of Holocaust survivors, asserts that she explicitly denied Ye's request to use the sample due to his controversial statements and values, which she finds objectionable. The lawsuit highlights her shock and humiliation upon discovering her song was used without permission and that she faced harassment from Ye's fans after the song's release. Merton is seeking damages and profits from the unauthorized use, indicating the sample spans a significant portion of her original work. Ye has a history of copyright infringement allegations, with this being one of many lawsuits he faces regarding unlicensed sampling. The case underscores ongoing concerns about the intersection of artistic expression and copyright law in the music industry.