Back in 2015, South African musician Daniel Baron was accused of copying a U2 music video, drawing his inspiration for ‘Free’ from U2’s video for ‘Numb’, released on their 1993 album ‘Zooropa’.

After the story broke, he amended the video’s YouTube description, adding “Video inspired by U2’s Numb”, so all’s well that ends well.

Fast forward four years, and now it’s Baron who is accusing an international musician of stealing his mojo. He claims that superstar David Guetta plagiarised Baron’s 2016 single, ‘Children of The Sun’, in his 2018 track, ‘Light Headed’.

Here’s TimesLIVE:

Through law firm Adams & Adams, Baron served a letter of demand to Guetta’s management, demanding that the French DJ credit him for his work and share half of his profits.

Adding clout to his fight is a report by renowned music expert Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph, who found a possible case of copyright infringement.

The South African Music Rights Organisation (Samro) has also frozen all royalties owed to Guetta for the song in SA.

I’m sure David has enough tucked away for a rainy day (his net worth is estimated at $60 million), but it’s the thought that counts.

Zaidel-Rudolph is a Wits University professor, and the first woman in this country to obtain a doctorate in composition. She was also involved in the crafting of our national anthem.

Right, it’s comparison time. Here’s Baron’s beat:

Now for some Guetta time:

I actually think Baron has a decent point here.

Let’s go side by side with this one:

Cool Photoshop skills, bro, but the point stands.

Here’s Baron himself:

“I was completely mind-blown. I couldn’t believe I was listening to my melody. It was surreal at first because this is David Guetta, who I have been looking up to as an artist for much of my career. I am not sure where he heard my song but all I knew is I was listening to my melody in his song.”

The musician demands to be credited for the melody used by Guetta, for the song to be removed from all distribution channels, and that half of all profits made from it since its release be ceded to him…

Baron said his fight was one for those who had been exploited in the past.

“I stand representing many other artists in a similar situation. This is almost testimony to the phenomenal South African talent that is out there that possibly is not showcased to the world.”

Yeah, that and money.

As things stand, Baron and his legal team have received no response from Guetta, having sent a letter of demand in December of last year.

Hopefully, this latest wave of media coverage pushes Guetta into addressing the issue, because nicking someone else’s beat is a bit of a doos move.

[source:timeslive]