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Underground > Radio & Music >

Sue for slang?

The Return Of Rothkoid

11:57 / 01.04.02

Mystikal is being sued for using some Creole phrases. The makers of the Cajun In Your Pocket product are claiming that the rapper's use of phrases that're used by the product is bringing it into disrepute, giving - shock, horror - anal or oral sex overtones to "good, clean Cajun fun".

Quote:
"On their own Web site, it claims those are 'authentic Cajun expressions,'" [Mystikal's lawyer] Maughan pointed out. "Well if that's the case, you didn't make them up! The expressions [haven't been modified] in such a way that gives them uniqueness or protection."

The bone of contention here is whether the maker of the product can copyright phrases such as "Laissez les bon temps rouler". Mystikal didn't sample them from the product; he just said 'em in the tune. What do people think of this? It sounds like opportunism to me - thoughts? Is this going to go through, or will it be laughed out of court?

15:55 / 01.04.02

Well, I thought at first this was an April Fool. But then the date on the MTV story is March 26, so maybe not.

Having read the story, I'd say the Cajun in Your Pocket people got a little overexcited after winning their last case, and are now pushing things a little bit too far.

This shouldn't be allowed through - you can't copyright 'authentic' language, even in America. And as for ruining good, clean Cajun fun - I'd say this is just the company trying to throw mud at Mystikal in the hope their case will stick.

16:51 / 01.04.02

i don't think that a reference book can be viewed the same way as copyrighted fiction. if i write that america was once a british colony, do the authors of my high school history text have the right to sue me? this cajun language book is a reference to society and culture, and if mystikal was using it to write from, he was doing so in the intended way. and "good and clean" was never once associated with cajun in my mind...