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Moreh J. Buchanan v. Sony Music Entertainment Inc., et al.

Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, No. 20-7060 · judgment February 5, 2021


Certiorari denied · November 8, 2021
Pre-decision estimate: 0% cert probability

Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.

Question presented

Petitioner is a songwriter, music publisher, singer /rapper, artist/composer that wrote, produced and recorded 5 in particular original demo/demonstration rap songs. These 5 (five) songs were distributed to the respondents, various music industry professionals, including an Atlanta entertainment lawyer, throughout the music industry. This lawyer, has even testified before Congress. Furthermore, Petitioner's 5 songs were copied on 62 other songs and a major motion picture franchise, resulting in massive success and profits for the respondents. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was assigned to Petitioner's case when it was filed in 2018. Judge Jackson dismissed Petitioner's (jury demanded requested trial), filed case, in 2020, without prejudice. Petitioner filed an appeal in 2020, to the U.S. Circuit of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Circuit erred upon the merits of Petitioner's meritorious claims for relief. In particularly, regarding the facts affirming the leading issue that there was a particular chain of events that show access of Petitioner's songs, and that demonstrate that the 5 songs were widely disseminated throughout the music industry. Also, the direct evidence statement from the 1997 issue of the popular magazine entitled The Source. This statement was made by the Hollywood actor/ Columbia Records rap artist "Will Smith," regarding flipping concepts.

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Moreh J. Buchanan

For respondent
Matthew E. Kelley
Ballard Spahr, LLP

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Proceedings

  1. Nov 08 2021
    Petition DENIED.
  2. Oct 20 2021
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/5/2021.
  3. Oct 08 2021
    Waiver of right of respondent Universal Pictures to respond filed.
  4. Sep 20 2021
    Waiver of right of respondents Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp., UMG Recordings, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC to respond filed.
  5. Jul 02 2021
    Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 12, 2021)