Jay Z and Timbaland were spotted in a Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday for the first day of the copyright infringement trial for “Big Pimpin’,” the Associated Press reports.
The two are accused of violating the rights of Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi by sampling his 1957 song “Khosara Khosara” for the 2001 hit without their permission. Timbaland and Jay Z’s lawyers claim that Hamdi’s heirs have been compensated repeatedly. Their lawyers also claimed that certain elements of the track aren’t copyrightable, according to Billboard.
[Jay Z Doesn’t Want Criminal Past Mentioned In ‘Big Pimpin” Case]
An expert on Egyptian music will testify in court today (Oct. 14).
