Donna Summer’s Estate Accuses Ye Of Using AI To Mimic Hit

The estate of Donna Summer, the legendary Queen of Disco, has accused rapper Kanye “Ye” West of copyright infringement amid AI concerns.

Allegations Against West

This accusation centers around a song from West’s recent collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign, “Vultures 1.”

The estate claims that West sought permission to use Summer’s iconic track “I Feel Love” but was denied. 

Despite this, the album’s song “Good (Don’t Die)” features lyrics and melodies eerily reminiscent of Summer’s classic.

The song includes the lyric, “Oh, I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive, oh,” along with a melody and cadence that appears to be the song the estate may be referencing, according to Rolling Stone.

The estate’s Instagram story alleged that West changed the words and either had someone re-sing it or used AI to replicate the song, constituting a clear case of copyright infringement.

Adding To AI Copyright Concerns

This controversy underscores the emerging legal and ethical challenges in the music industry brought about by the advent of AI technology.

The use of AI in replicating music and vocals raises profound questions about copyright and artistic integrity.

The proposed No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas And Unauthorized Duplications (No AI FRAUD) Act adds a broader context to this dispute.

The bill has received overwhelming support from nearly 300 artists, actors, and performers, including prominent figures like Cardi B, 21 Savage, and Nicki Minaj.

The response from West’s camp to these allegations was not made public at the time of reporting.