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Celebrity Justice
*NSYNC *NCOURT Over Song

Posted May 8th 2007 8:00PM by TMZ Staff

Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass and the rest of the boys from *NSYNC, along with their label Jive Records, are being blasted over a hit song from the past that they allegedly ripped off -- and the dispute could cost 'em more than $10 million bucks.

In a lawsuit filed yesterday in a Las Vegas Federal Court, a musician named Troy Alexander (aka "Royal T") claims he met with Jive records in 1990 and introduced them to his demo tape of the song "Up Against the Wall." According to documents, JIVE signed *NSYNC a few years later, who then released a song "substantially similar" to Alexander's work in 2001. The song in question featured the same title and was featured on the smash album "Celebrity." The boys also performed the song on their "PopOdyssey" tour.
NSYNC
According to Troy's attorneys at Callister and Reynolds, the similarities are much more of a "battle of written lyrics," as opposed to sound.

A rep for Jive told TMZ that they were not aware of the claim and had not been served with any papers.

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76. I've read both lyrics and there shouldn't be a lawsuit. Granted, some words are the same but these are reusable words here. Besides that, both songs are about two completely different things. If it was a similar topic, Royal T would've had stood a bigger chance. But the two songs are about two completely different things so there should be hardly any connection between them except for those words being in the same exact places.

He's probably just mad that he didn't receive any money for it if he really did provide the basis for it, even though it seems highly unbelievable seeing as the content of both songs are too different from one another.

Posted at 10:50PM on May 11th 2007 by Ceci

77. Why are these people hating so much, lol..Jealousy is a sickness!!!!some people have way too much time on there hands, get a life! I THINK IF ROYAL T WINS HIS CASE THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL REAL STUPID, AND THAT COMMENT ABOUT THE FRESH PRINCE, DOES FRESH PRINCE HAVE A SONG CALLED UP AGAINST THE WALL, WHAT A IDIOT LOL

GO TROY



Posted at 8:37PM on May 11th 2007 by jealousy is a sickness

78. haha thats really funny that he is suing for that.
idiot. they are completely different songs.
yeah they have the same title, thats about it.
just because the Nsycnc version was decent.
makes me laugh.

Posted at 8:38PM on May 11th 2007 by london

79. i actually took the time to look at both documents and looked at the lyrics for both songs.
granted there are similarities...but VERY LITTLE.
one song is about drugs...the other is about having some fun at a club, even the CONTENT of the songs are completely different.
and why the heck would someone wait 6 YEARS to sue? that's an unreasonable amount of time to wait to sue. it would make more sense if he sued when the album came out in 2001.
all these petty lawsuits are causing tax payers thousands of dollars and for what? a guy who is craving some attention and a free handout.
i agree w/ the person that said this will be dismissed on the first day it reaches court. the entire case is absurd.

Posted at 2:04AM on May 12th 2007 by lily

80. what people will do for money.

Posted at 7:27PM on Sep 15th 2007 by kaatie

81. LOOKS LIKE THE SAME "HATER" WHO COMMENTED ON SATIN DOLL AND BRITTANYS COMMENT USING DIFFERENT NAMES, AND OTHER ONES! YOU SOUND PRETTY MAD ABOUT SOMETHING, MAYBE BECAUSE ITS NOT YOU? TO BE A RAPPER YOU GET ON A MIC AND RAP. TO HAVE A LAWSUIT YOU COPYRIGHT YOUR SONGS SO THEY CANT BE STOLE. IF HE WAS A KNOWN RAPPER IM SURE THEY WOULDNT OF TOOK HIS SONG THEY WOULD OF PAYED HIM FOR IT, THTS WHAT ALOT OF THESE BIG COMPANIES DO, TAKE FROM UNKNOWNS, YOU SOUND LIKE YOU HAVE A HATE PROBLEM. MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO CHANGE YOUR 3 YR OLDS DIPPERS AND GET A LIFE OF YOUR OWN. IF YOU HAVE A 3 YR OLD PERHAPS U SHOULD GROW UP. TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE! FOR THE RECORD HATERZ, I HEARD TROY ALEXANDER ON AN INTERVIEW ON KLUC RADIO THE OTHER DAY, HIS RECORD WAS GIVEN TO JIVE RECORDS PRIOR TO THEM SIGNING NSYNC, DAHHH..HE HAS WORKED WITH SEVERAL KNOWN ARTISTS AND HE OWNS WWW.RAPSCENE.COM AND IS A EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, LOOKS LIKE HES DOING PRETTY WELL TO ME. I GUESS THATS MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE THE FOOL AND THE REST OF THESE MORONS. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CASE TROY,, LOOKS LIKE A RAP TO ME!!!

Posted at 11:45PM on May 11th 2007 by FS

82. ok whats the big deal? nsync broke up anyway and its not similar enough to make a big fuss over. if this guy is just now bringing it up now then he must have just gotten really bored and decided "hey why not sue someone?"

Posted at 6:48PM on May 13th 2007 by hockeychik191

83. Royal T has been ripped off, that Amy and CeCe- (same person) have issues, You say if it was a similar topic Royal T might of had a chance, LOL, the topic is putting someone "up against the wall" and the words and lyrics are underlined, same hook and title and lines..DIFFERENT STORY SAME TOPIC! This person is so stupid she doesnt realize if he has a case he has a chance, lol, moron..

HES GONNA WIN THIS CASE IT WONT EVEN GO TO TRAIL, IT WILL SETTLE WAY BEFORE THEN!!

Posted at 1:00AM on May 12th 2007 by montego

84. 1st of all that album come out 6 years ago and now he is coming out with this.. i think he just wants money and he has nothing better to do with him self . the 2 songs are nothing alike.. this guy is just mad that he never made it and nsync did.. and you know what is even more funny.. nsync is not even toegther anymore.. i think it is funny.. its dumb and a waste of time

Posted at 2:25AM on May 12th 2007 by samantha

85. what I find funny is how people on here say this guy is just trying to get money and attention, when he has had a song ripped off. I looked at all the lryics and if that was my song i would sue them too, there isnt to much that is not underlined, what the hell is that about, so this is all a freak coinidence? What is the purpose of getting a copyright if your just gonna let someone take your song and fit it to their liking. Didnt Nsync Rap on Up Against The Wall, where did that idea come from, are they rappers? looks like a no brainer to me, im going to have to go with Royal T on this one sorry..

Posted at 9:42AM on May 12th 2007 by paul

86. I have heard of Troy Alexander. Maybe not Royal T, 1989 was 18 yrs ago, As a matter of fact alot of people in the industry have heard of him you might wanna go to WWW.RAPSCENE.COM and find out! If he sucked so bad why would Gold and Platinum Artists wanna work with him, and why would Nsync or JIVE take his song and have it altered to fit Nsync? Im sure he is going to win this case, dont be surprised! While these Nsync fans are trying to defend them, they probably already know what they did and are going to pay him, if was more than likey the lables fault for giving it to them to redo. I doubt if he or his High Profile Attorneys would waste there time and money, Wake Up Call!

Posted at 4:47PM on May 12th 2007 by yw

87. Regarding Shana's comment, are you a english major or a musicologist? Why are you so mad did someone piss in ur cornflakes? If you know so much you would know there is a statue of limitation to file a case and Mr Alexander is within those guidlines. He has said publically why he waited so long, he doesnt listen to Nsync and found out last year putting his song title in a Google search. I dont listen to them either, get out your bubble before it POPS! Since your so perfect maybe you should think before you speak, DAMN...I guess your smarter than the lawyers too huh, I feel sorry for the guy that gets stuck with you, are u psm'in or what, take a deep breath!

Posted at 5:13PM on May 12th 2007 by yw

88. Nsync is no longer together. I think this is so stupid. Obvious this guy didn't hit it big like nsync and that's why he's suing them. They are no longer a group, which makes me laugh. This guy has no case because both the songs are different and I don't see how they are even the same since the content for both songs are so different.

Posted at 12:08AM on May 13th 2007 by amy

89. LOOKS LIKE THE SAME SONG, WITH A DIFFERENT STORY BUT STILL TALKING ABOUT PUTTING SOMEONE UP AGAINST THE WALL, WHY DID THEY USE SO MANY OF HIS LINES AND WORDS TO TELL A DIFFERENT STORY LOL, WELL THAT WOULD BE REAL DUMB TO TAKE EVERYTHING LINE FOR LINE , I DOUBT IF THERE WOULD BE A CASE IF THAT WAS THE CASE!

AND NSYNC REPEATS "UP AGAINST THE WALL" A MILLION TIMES, I ALSO SEE THEY REPEAT THE WORD "UP" UP AGAINST THE WALL" JUST LIKE ROYAL T DID IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION LOL, IF THAT ISNT A DEAD GIVEAWAY, SHEEZE, EVEN THE LAST LINE IS REPEATED THE SAME WAY, HOW ORIGINAL..

I THINK IM GOIN TO TAKE FRANK SINATRA'S RECORD "MY WAY" AND CALL IT 'MY WAY" AND USE HIS WORDS, LINES AND HOOK, "I DID IT MY WAY" BUT ONLY ADD SOME AND TALK ABOUT FREAKING A GIRL,,"I DID IT MY WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY" AND TELL THE JUDGE ITS A DIFFERENT STORY LOL,.....IF I CANT MAKE IT THERE, IM GONNA PULL HER HAIR, "I DID IT MY WAYYYYYYYYY" LMAOOOOOOOO....BUT ITS A DIFFERENT SONG!!!! LMAOOOOOOOO, THIS IS TOOOO FUNNY!!!!

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES BACK AROUND....HEY IM GOING USE THAT RECORD AND TAKE JUSTIN'S TITLE, HOOK, AND SOME OH HIS WORDS AND LINES...HEY GIRL, UR EVERYTHING I NEVER WANTED, AND CHANGE THE STORY, GET THE F*** OUTTA HERE!
WHAT GOES AROUND GOES AROUND COMES BACK AROUND! BUT THERE NOTHING ALIKE, LMAO

GO ROYAL T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 5:38AM on May 13th 2007 by G-Money

90. WTF Royal T. They aren't much alike. Anyways you didn't make a move and make it a hit song and Nsync did so shut up. It is just gonna make you look stupid!

Posted at 11:11PM on May 14th 2007 by Kaela

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