Jay Z, Timbaland & Swizz Beatz Have To Pay Up For Swiping 'Versus' Sample

Pharrell and Robin Thicke weren't the only artists involved in copyright disputes this week.

Jay-Z, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz were also tangled up in that mess. And like the 'Blurred Lines' duo, they have just been slapped with an expensive L.

The trio had been pursued by Swiss electro-jazz composer Bruno Spoerri because he said they sampled  his 1978 song 'On The Way' on Hov's Magna Carta Holy Grail track 'Versus' without attributing him.

After a 18 month legal battle, the 78-year old  Spoerri has won 50 percent of all of 'Versus''s royalties.

Spoerri explained that if Hov and company had just contacted him before releasing the song, they could have had the sample for a lot cheaper.

“In a way I’m flattered that a relatively young rapper takes a sample from an old man, a sample that is about 35 years old. On the other hand I’m furious because it would have been so simple to clear the sample. All it would have needed was a call or an email to the company and I think it would have been relatively cheap," Spoerri told Swissinfo.ch.

Additionally, Jay Z, Timbaland and Beyonce are being sued by Gypsy singer Mónika Juhász Miczura for using a sample from her 1995 folk song 'Bajba, Bajba Pelem' in their smash hit 'Drunk In Love.' As of now, we don't have an update on those proceedings, but we expect her to get something.

For the latest Hip Hop tracks and news, follow us on Twitter.