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Celebrity Justice
It Takes "Different Strokes" to Sue the World

Posted Jan 2nd 2008 3:56PM by TMZ Staff

An old-school bluesman is bringing the legal whammy bar down on Michael Jackson, Will Smith, and even Tupac Shakur, claiming they all stole his song "Different Strokes" without paying proper tribute -- or loot. The world, it seems, does move to the beat of just one drum.
Read the lawsuit!
Syl Johnson (real name, Sylvester Thompson), who played with Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf, among others, alleges in the copyright infringement suit that Jacko's "Blood on the Dance Floor," Smith's "Who Stole the D.J.," and Tupac's "Peep Game" all borrowed from his 1967 hit "Different Strokes," -- not the TV theme song you're probably thinking about. Syl's claiming that he hasn't seen one red cent from any of them. What you talkin' about Willis?!

Johnson is seeking unspecified damages. Smith's rep tells TMZ they don't comment on pending litigation, while reps for Jacko, and Tupac's estate, didn't return messages seeking comment.

Tags: Michael Jackson, MichaelJackson, Tupac, Will Smith, WillSmith

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(Page 2 of 2) Previous 15 Comments

16. #15 I'm not surprised to see that Nazi *ssholes never let us down. You are such a disgrace to humanity. I 'm not Jewish but I'm human and you are disgusting for that comment.

Posted at 5:54PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by #15 is an *sshole

17. First off #15 I apologize, I was so blinded by the ignorance of #13 (White America-laughable) that I mixed up the numbers. #13 my comment(#16) was meant for your ignorant racist self.

Posted at 5:59PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by #13 is an Asshole

18. I'm sure this guy believes Beethoven stole from him!

Posted at 6:41PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by TBA

19. Re: the lawsuit. When you have no talent and got lucky once, then your only recourse is to sue another party when there is even the slightest chance to cash is. My suggestion to sly is to go apply for the Janitors position at the local Wal-Mart. That way you can clean up for real.

And now for Don and the others that hate who they are so much. Why don't you go sue your Mommy and Daddy for giving you life in such a racist society. They could have been good Democrats and aborted your A$$, but they didn't and you should make them pay. Instead, they gave you a chance to make something of yourself and you have obviously failed big time. Maybe someday you will step up and do it yourself because it's just not worth living if you have to deal with those racist white trash humans. I say tomorrow would be a good day for you. Hey, why wait, how about tonight? Racism is just not worth living another day for. Do it now.

Posted at 6:50PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by Tired of it all

20. I know one thing, I'm tired of all the harsh crap I read on this site EVERY FRICKIN TIME I log on. You people are ridiculous. One person is calling the white trailor trash, etc and to retaliate, it is suggested that this personb kill themself.

NEWSFLASH!

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY THE WHITE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT YOU, LEAVE! THERE REALLY IS NO REASON TO LOG ON TO A SITE LIKE THIS WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. NAME CALLING ONLY LOWERS YOU TO THE LEVEL OF THE PEOPLE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!

NEWSFLASH!

ANY PERSON THAT IS DISGUSTING ENOUGH TO SUGGEST THAT A PERSON KILL THEMSELF OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABORTED SHOULD BE INSTITUTIONALIZED! THAT'S A MISERABLE, HORRIBLE, UGLY THING TO SAY TO SOMEONE AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, TO GO TO LEVEL MAKES YOU WORSE THAN THEM! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY SOMETHING SO HARSH AND I AM WILLING TO BET YOU'RE THE KIND OF GUY WHO WOULD NEVER HAVE THE BALLS TO SAY SOMETHING SO HATEFUL IN PERSON.

Posted at 8:26PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by FU!

21. #14 Soul Power-why are you filled with so much hate? The last time I saw Jerry Springer, there were pleny of black folks on there speaking a language I can only guess, was ebonics (it certainly wasn't english)-because I surely couldn't understand them.
Your comments are a perfect example of how blacks think they can say whatever they want and believe it's acceptable, but the white man should keep their pride to themselves.

#15 & #16, you are just ignorant! My comments didn't have anything to do with being Jewish, you don't know what you're talking about.

Can't we all just get along?

Posted at 8:31PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by Shades of gray

22. Isn't Syl Johnson the father or Syleena Johnson?

Posted at 12:25AM on Jan 3rd 2008 by A$$hole-itis

23. A hell of a lot more songs have uncleared samples of 'Different Strokes' than just those ones named. lol

Posted at 4:39PM on Jan 3rd 2008 by Tim

24. At one time I was in awe at Michael Jackson's genius musicality; and mesmerized by his dark, good looks.
Now, I'm simply baffled as to why he looks like a wee elf or a leprechaun, as in above photo.
I guess I'll choose to remember his musical legacy apart from the increasingly bizarre and almost shocking visage.
If those unethical surgeons could do this to him, why can't they reverse some of it back?
He would have to request it, and the nose probably can't take any more surgery.

Posted at 6:06AM on Jan 3rd 2008 by Old Jackson Fan

25. to add: Plus you devalue black slave women by reducing them to whores. They were grandmothers, mothers, daughters, grandaughters, worked impossibly hard and probably had more courage and grit than any simple 'call girl', as you reduced them to. If they did sleep with their owners, it would only have been because they were forced to, or to get favors so life wouldn't be so hard for the rest of their family.

Posted at 6:46AM on Jan 3rd 2008 by to soul's non-power

26. I don't see ANY SIMILARITY between "Different Strokes" and "Blood On The Dance Floor"
NOBODY KNOWS WHY HE IS SUING MICHAEL JACKSON.

Posted at 8:32PM on Jan 4th 2008 by MichaelJackson'sBiggestFan

27. All these artists stole his music and used it to profit.. he should get this money.. if you made a record and someone rapped over it and made millions you would want a piece. And the Michael Jackson record is "Blood On The Dancefloor (Refugee Remix)," not the album version.

Posted at 11:27AM on Jan 5th 2008 by Ryan

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