Celebrity Justice
Avril Ripped for Allegedly Ripping Off "Girlfriend"

Posted Jul 6th 2007 3:06PM by TMZ Staff

Avril Lavigne has gotten herself into a deeply complicated mess, with two '70s songwriters claiming that she stole their song for her hit single "Girlfriend."
Click to hear!
In a lawsuit filed in US District Court in Northern California, songwriters Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer allege that "Girlfriend" rips off their 1979 song, "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," originally performed by The Rubinoos, whose previous claim to fame was penning the theme to "Revenge of the Nerds." Veteran music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote on Billboard.com that "Girlfriend" was "a total lift" from "Boyfriend."
Click to hear!
Lavigne's manager tells the AP that the claim is baseless and that he hired a musicologist to study the two tracks -- and that they've been deemed "completely different songs." Decide for yourself below ...

UPDATE: Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer, the songwriters who recently brought a legal action against Avril Lavigne and Dr. Luke that claimed that the hit Lavigne/Dr. Luke song "Girlfriend" infringed the copyright in their 1979 song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," have issued the following statement: "We are satisfied that any similarities between the two songs resulted from Avril and Luke's use of certain common and widely used lyrics. We therefore completely exonerate Avril and Luke from any wrongdoing of any kind in connection with the claims made by us in our lawsuit."

Listen and Decide

"Girlfriend" versus "Boyfriend"



UPDATE (5:45PM ET): Lawyers for Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer tell TMZ they too consulted a musicologist that fully supports their claims, finding that the songs have an unusually high degree of similarity. Dunbar says, "Once a jury is exposed to the undeniable fact that her song and our song share the same musical DNA, we're confident that it will conclude that Avril would never have had her hit 'Girlfriend' if the Rubinoos hadn't first recorded our song 'I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.'"



Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music

Comments [229]
Digg itDel.icio.usMy YahooSphereRSSMySpace

Relevant Posts

Reader Comments

(Page 3 of 16)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. For sure this is a rip off and I see $$$$$$$ in the future.

Posted at 12:07PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Yes Indeed

32. Ice, Ice Baby vs. Under Pressure anyone?

Posted at 12:09PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Smith

33. Avril ripped that song off. if was going to rip songs off, start with really good ones. Duh, Avril!!
You would of know that if you finished high school!

Posted at 12:10PM on Jul 6th 2007 by kiki77

34. sounds alike to me too

Posted at 12:16PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Janice

35. They REALLY sound alike. Whether the rip was intentional, that's something I wouldn't know for sure. All i do know is that I felt as if I were listening to the same song.

Posted at 12:17PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Jacy

36. Are you guys really serious, or do you just want to "fry" that poor girl for any thing.
Those songs are completely different.

Posted at 12:17PM on Jul 6th 2007 by trikkikitty

37. Similiar BEAT, but a different song.

Posted at 12:18PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Tarl

38. She is such a loser. She must of thought the original was from the 70's so no one would notice.

I can't stand her. She thinks just because she acts like an immature punk that qualifies her as a punk artist.

Posted at 12:23PM on Jul 6th 2007 by min

39. Sound similar...but not the same. I like the craziness in both song!

Posted at 12:24PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Ibe

40. listen to the words pepole it really is not the same song!

Posted at 12:25PM on Jul 6th 2007 by lj

41. BTW TMZ is rather slow these days. Most of their information has already been on Perez and X17 for days.

Posted at 12:25PM on Jul 6th 2007 by min

42. "Similar BEAT, but a different song."

Similar lyrics, similar theme, similar style, similar....

The song is a lift. Avril and the company that released the song should have known better. They owe royalties to the original song writers and the person who owns the rights to the song. If pressed Avril and Co. are going to be handing over quite a bit of cash based on the radio play of the song, the profits from the album and profits from the song downloads. Good job Avril.

Posted at 12:29PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Smith

43. hmmmmmmmm
Advril
smells like a winning law suite to me
what were you thinking?

Posted at 12:30PM on Jul 6th 2007 by debbie

44. SHE IS GONNA PAY! That is a total lift. I agree that Avril's version is better but that doesn't mean she can just copy it without giving credit!

Posted at 12:32PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Geesh!

45. It amazes me how some of you people do not have the ability to think for yourselves! They lyrics are completely different with the exception of the phrase... "Hey you!" Puuuuulllllleeeeaaaaaassseee..... Can no one ever say Hey you again?

The songs are two completely different songs and ANY IDIOT can see that.

I am no Avril fan, but definitely objective and not quick to jump on every hate band wagon that passes me by!

Posted at 12:33PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Dawn Lassetter

Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

Hot Tips