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."

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."

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."

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music

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46. get on with your life the 70's are over

Posted at 12:37PM on Jul 6th 2007 by lance

47. Its a ripoff. I hope Avril doesn't spit at us or give us the finger.

Posted at 12:37PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Paul

48. I think Avril is the skankiest thing i have seen in a long time besides Ms. Spears. I hope she hangs for this!! Stupid B*tch!!

Posted at 12:40PM on Jul 6th 2007 by K.D.

49. She ripped off "Contagious" from her former friend/collaborator Chantal and didn't give her any credit for it...needless to say they are no longer friends. Come on now...did anyone really think she wrote her own stuff....except for maybe skater boi....."he wasn't good enuf for her....." lol

Posted at 12:41PM on Jul 6th 2007 by wtf

50. An American suing?
STOP THE PRESSES!

Posted at 12:43PM on Jul 6th 2007 by AmeriKKKA

51. This chick is so annoying and really fake, trying to be all tough and rock n roll..I bet she listens to boy band music in the privacy of her basement..and her best friends are probably the Olsen Twins..

Posted at 12:44PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Jem Jensen

52. "57. her song sounds similar, but far better than the old one. I doubt she ripped it off, that song is old and no one has ever listed to it except the 2 people suing her."

Some of you are truly clueless... having the "better" song doesn't make it ok in the eyes of copyright laws. The song was part of a fairly successful movie franchise.. I truly doubt only 2 people heard it.

Posted at 12:45PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Smith

53. Sounds exactly the same, although I like her version better.

Posted at 12:46PM on Jul 6th 2007 by brisim

54. There is a degree of similarity, but I don't know that I would call it a lift. In fact, it's a bit of a stretch to make that argument.

Posted at 12:47PM on Jul 6th 2007 by B.H.

55. Listen to the WORDS ... They are Not the same Words at all ....

Posted at 12:48PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Heaven

56. Sure, her version is better but then again she didn't have to do the hard work of coming up with the original.

Posted at 12:50PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Lisdog

57. Avril lavigne is bad. she's always been bad and she'll always stay bad. all she knows how to do is imitate human beings because she isn't one. she is a total alien and relies on others to exist. she wouldn't know how to get home if she were five blocks away. someone should make a milli vannili/avril mash up.

Posted at 12:50PM on Jul 6th 2007 by ruby

58. "66. There is a degree of similarity, but I don't know that I would call it a lift. In fact, it's a bit of a stretch to make that argument."

What makes you say that? For a song that is only a few minutes long there are too many similarities for it not to be a lift. The best she can hope for is to claim it was a parody and she will be off the hook immediately.

Posted at 12:52PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Smith

59. I don't think it's identical... the chorus sounds "somewhat similar" but then again that's the stupidest part of both songs IMHO... but the person who wrote "listen to the words" is right - the words are totally different out side of the "Hey You Girlfriend/Boyfriend" part.... but COME ON - every day I turn on the radio and hear some new rap/hip-hop song that incorporates a melody, phrase or something else from another old hit song... that stuff gets recycled all the time. I think these guys are making too big a deal about one tiny phrase in the chorus - the rest of her song has nothing similar to their song.

Posted at 12:53PM on Jul 6th 2007 by L.Y.

60. definitely a ripoff

Posted at 12:54PM on Jul 6th 2007 by the great flamingo

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