Beyoncé and singer Chloe Bailey are facing a $15 million copyright infringement lawsuit filed by artist Melvin Moore, also known as 4Rest (Forest).
Moore claims that Parkwood Entertainment used his work without permission in several songs from Bailey’s album Trouble in Paradise, released in August. The lawsuit, filed in New York on Thursday, alleges fraudulent misrepresentation, violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), civil conspiracy, and deceptive business practices.
According to court documents, Moore, a Grammy-nominated artist, alleges he contributed original lyrics, melodies, and creative direction to multiple tracks, including Favorite, Might As Well, and Same Lingerie. He claims these songs were commercially released without his knowledge or consent by the defendants.
Moore also states that before Bailey, 26, promoted Same Lingerie on Instagram to over 260,000 followers, she ignored a DMCA violation notice and cease-and-desist order he had issued.
The lawsuit further details that Same Lingerie was inspired by a past relationship, with Moore originally recording demos based on a woman’s emotional struggles following a previous breakup.
Legal Demands
Moore is seeking:
- $5 million in punitive damages per song
- Up to $150,000 per copyright infringement
- Up to $25,000 per DMCA violation
- Compensatory and punitive damages for willful copyright infringement, fraudulent misrepresentation, and civil conspiracy
- A jury trial
In addition to Beyoncé, Bailey, and Parkwood Entertainment, the lawsuit names Columbia Records, Sony Music Entertainment, ABC Corporation 1-10, and unnamed individuals (John and Jane Does 1-10) as defendants.
Moore accuses them of misappropriating his contributions, falsely registering the works under their names, and exploiting them commercially without authorization.
Beyoncé’s Reaction
A source told DailyMail that Beyoncé, 43, is furious over the situation.
“Beyoncé is incensed that it has gone this far,” the source said. “This lawsuit is a terrible look for everyone involved.”
Reports suggest that communication between Bailey and Parkwood Entertainment had been breaking down in the weeks leading up to the lawsuit. The team was reportedly fearful of being drawn into an intellectual property dispute, citing concerns over how the Marvin Gaye lawsuit impacted Robin Thicke’s career.
