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Beyoncé Sued Over Alleged Sample in 'Alien Superstar'

Plaintiffs contend a post-release license from the spoken-word performer lacked authority and are seeking an injunction plus unspecified damages.

Overview

  • Court filings reported Tuesday show Hirose Enterprise and producer Shuji Hirose sued Beyoncé and several music companies, alleging the track 'Alien Superstar' uses an unlicensed spoken-word intro from a song called 'Moonraker'.
  • Hirose says it owns the rights to 'Moonraker' and that Beyoncé’s team did not secure a license before the 2022 release of Renaissance.
  • The complaint asserts Beyoncé’s team obtained a license weeks after the album came out only from performer John Holiday, who Hirose says transferred his rights decades earlier and therefore could not grant permission.
  • Hirose is asking a judge for an injunction to stop further sales or monetization of the track and for unspecified damages tied to continued exploitation after notice.
  • Reporting to date is based on court documents obtained by TMZ and republished by other outlets, and the articles do not include a public response from Beyoncé or her representatives; the case will turn on ownership records and whether any post-release clearance was valid.